[www.inewsguyana.com] – As Muslims around the world celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, which symbolizes the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally urged all Guyanese to live in unity, regardless of their religious beliefs because, “where there is unity, there is strength.”
Minister Ally was at the time giving brief remarks at the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman 12th annual Eid Fest, which was held at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, West Coast Demerara.
Ramadan is the pillar of Islam; it is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar where Muslims around the world fast for the sake of Allah by abstaining from food, drinks and one’s desires.
Also present was Minister of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine, Deputy Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Shashi Mohan Joshi, Members of the Inter-religious Organisation and the diplomatic corps, who joined hundreds of Muslims at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex to culminate the festival of Eid, where they were treated to spectacular Indian traditional music and Qasida.
The celebration of Eid promotes integration and the feeling of brotherhood, which Minister Ally said is imperative not only in Guyana, but throughout the world.
“…It is the festival of love and goodwill, it gives us a message to love all and hate none and embrace all as brothers and sisters. It exerts us to bid goodbye to hatred, jealousy and enmity and bring us to an era of love, simplicity and brotherhood. There is no distinction between the rich and the poor, all are equal,” Minister Ally pointed out.
Communal harmony, brotherhood and sisterhood, Minister Ally explained, are the fundamentals that are greatly needed to foster greater unity among mankind. She further noted that Islam can play a great role in this regard, as it promotes peace, unity and love.
Recognising the contributions of religious bodies to society, Minister Ally noted that Christians, Hindus and Muslims are brothers and sisters in the one human family.
Meanwhile, echoing similar sentiments was Minister of Education, Dr Roopnaraine, who described Eid as an example to the population.
He said that the example of Ramadan is one that should be valued, noting that this festival is imprinted in the country’s national culture, as such, although the Muslim community constitutes 7.2% of Guyana’s population, the Islamic culture earns enormous an respect because of its steadfast propagation of the religion and its practices. [Extracted and modified from GINA]
Amana Ally should talk to Ms Africo about brother and sisters Ally is just a soup drinker