Muslims around the country celebrated Eid yesterday.
This is a religious festival characterised by the renewal of faith.
It marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is a time for spiritual renewal.
There is commitment to the faith, the family, and the community.
Eid is supposed to be an occasion of happiness.
At the heart of Eid is gratitude as Muslims celebrate the blessings of Ramadan after a month of fasting and prayer!
The message of love and togetherness are strongly associated with Eid celebrations.
Today we urge people to look beyond religion, and love and respect one another.
There are powerful messages that will resonate around the world on a day in which millions of Muslims celebrate Eid as the holy month of Ramadan ends.
We have always said that regardless of which religion you belong to, we should be able to embrace the need to love and respect others and appreciate life.
Eid is considered one of the holiest religious events on the Islamic calendar.
Like every other religion, there are many challenges for Muslims.
The basic tenets of most religions focus on nurturing peace, harmony and mutual respect for one another.
In his message to the nation, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said religious freedom “is a cornerstone of our multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-lingual nation and we treasure our diversity and social cohesion in Fiji”.
The month of Ramadan, in the Islamic calendar, he said, is observed with fasting practised daily from dawn to sunset.
“It is a time of reflection, self-improvement and heightened devotion and worship. We as a nation, must also take time to reflect of the true meaning Eid-Ul-Fitr. It is time that we stand united and come together as one people in supporting one another as we rebuild our nation.”
PM Rabuka said Fijians must be compassionate and caring for one another.
Let’s face it, we live in a very special country.
We have embraced multiracialism. We should be able to take time out to learn and appreciate other religions.
Despite the different religions we follow, and appreciating ethnicity and gender, we share one common factor, which is our ability to live in peace and harmony with one another.
We live in a country that is diverse in many things, from religion, to tradition and culture, and racial composition.
Surely inter-religious harmony could have a large bearing on peace and tolerance in Fiji.
Our nation already thrives on a very rich mix of religions, traditions, and cultures.
Let’s add to that by pushing for love, understanding and mutual respect!
Let’s consider that part of our contribution to nation-building?
