From all of us at ATP we congratulate the nearly 2.5 million Muslims who performed Hajj this year, including 125,000 Pakistanis, and also wish fond Eid-u-Azha greetings to all of you.
This is the fifth such post we have written since ATP began (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). The words and symbolism of these posts are the same each year. But even behind the same old words, the sentiment is renewed and refreshed each Eid. And so it is this year too.
Once again, our thoughts on this Eid are on the ‘tough times’ that we are living through. On the symbolism of unity and brotherhood that this day is meant to evoke, and to the reality of divisions and differences surrounding us that this symbolism serves to highlight. Each year we have wished that next year would be different. That next year the joy that Eid is meant to embody will be mirrored in peace and stability around us, that the unity and brotherhood that Hajj is meant to symbolize will be a reality in the communities we are part of.
This year is no different. This year we pray for the same.
This year, we also pray that we all be spared of our own cynicism. Of our own negativity. Of our own self-doubt. Of our own disbelief. Of our own bitterness. Of our own anger. Of our own sarcasm. Of our own venom that we seem to inflict on ourselves with such relish, and with such frequency.
This year, once again – we pray as we have on this day each of the previous four years – that the message we take from this day is one of humility; that the feeling we have today are of universal humanity and fraternity, that the the vows we make are of peace and goodwill for all and everywhere; that the evil we shun is our own bitterness; that the world we look forth to is a world where we believe in our own goodness, and a world where we act to actualize and enable that goodness.
Hajj Mubarak and a happy Eid to all of our readers.
I join you in your greetings and also your prayers. If only we coudl bring down the collective BP of the country down a bit we woudl be so much better off :-)
Eid Mubarak to everyone.
Eid Mubarak to everyone. Lets please just let go of the tou tou mein mein for this one day.
Eid Mubarak to All The Pakistanis.
So, so the question rises, where does Qur’an say that:
1. it is compulsory?
2. it is compulsory for those who do not perform Hajj?
3. Is there any record Rasool Allah offered sacrifices in the 9th year (the year Abu Bakar and Imam Ali represented him)?
You see, this is the problem in Pakistan (and elsewhere too) that the fake liberals want to stop you from doing things that people like to do and the religious nuts want to force you to do things that are not part of Qur’an.
The concept of live and let live does not exist with both as neither understand what are the principles nor know the values which they self-proclaim.
Pakistanis are middle of the road people. Good people. Honest people. Hard working people. Decent people.
Can we just leave them alone on what they want to do by themselves?
Must Pakistanis get divine (yes with small ‘d’) guidance from fake liberals and religious nuts?
This year, we also pray that we all be spared of our own cynicism. Of our own negativity. Of our own self-doubt. Of our own disbelief. Of our own bitterness. Of our own anger. Of our own sarcasm. Of our own venom that we seem to inflict on ourselves with such relish, and with such frequency.
Ditto.
Great sentiments.
But since you brought it up. What prayers do we have for Mai Jori Jamali’s daughter? Will she have to “travel” two miles to get water?
Just like her mothers before her?
How long is long enough? Is that cynicism?
I find it fascinating, we do not change conditions on the ground. The medicine doctor is missing. The witch doctor has taken hold of the good people. And good people are being mislead into doing bad, wrong and criminal things.
Is that negativity?
The self proclaimed and fake liberals are arguing with the self proclaimed religious nuts. Each wants a perfect square before they will do their trances (‘nach na janay agan thayrah’) and all the while, good, honest, hardworking, decent people of Pakistan are being denied rights of full citizenship. By a tacit agreement between both of them. And the “gitter-mitter” continues with talk, talk, talk. No action.
Is that self-doubt?
No new judges since the start of the year. Is that bitterness?
Flooding since monsoons. Is that anger?
“Cannot tax rich”. Is that sarcasm?
Mother’s without Asprin. Is that venomous?
This is not some moral righteous indignation or grandstanding. This is about responsibility. Of the “gitter-mitter” crowd.
Stop blaming everyone and everything in sight. Start accepting responsibility.
And oh yes, Eid Mubarak to those too who do not have electric power and or clean water.