Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid has stated that Ramadan is the time to invest in the ties that bind all of the Muslim Ummah.
He made this remark in a sermon delivered during the Friday prayers at the United Nations, which was led by the Maldivian minister.
Highlighting that the ongoing fasting month of Ramadan has met us at a difficult time, at a time conflict rages on, poverty persists and human suffering is plenty, PGA Shahid noted that the people often feel hopeless about things they cannot control and impatient for things to change.
However, among the many things Ramadan teaches is patience; to go without food and drink, to withstand temptation, to avoid sin and even to endure which is a lesson that can be applied to the “everyday walk of life”.
PGA Shahid urged the people to keep faith at all times, especially as Islam teaches Muslims to have faith and to trust in the almighty Allah, all the while working hard to give their best.
Quoting the Holy Quran, PGA Shahid stated that Allah almighty decrees to not “falter” or “grieve”, “for you will have the upper hand if you are true believers”.
With this being said, the Maldivian minister urged the people to continue to work at what they can and do what they can, despite the feelings of helplessness looming above them. As such he noted how the people must continue to strive and work for a change, as well as hope for changes be it in their personal lives on in the international stage.
PGA Shahid went on to highlight that Ramadan is the time for togetherness and the time to invest in the ties that bind the people and nourish their families, friends and even neighbors.
Highlighting that the Muslim Ummah meets to break their fast together and cherish the warmth of their communities as well as helping each other, so that they may feel each other’s pain and suffering, PGA Shahid described this to be another important lesson of the fasting month.
We here are lucky. We have plenty of food. We are blessed with opportunities. Blessed with choice. But there are many who are not. Many who suffer. While we go without food and drink during daylight in Ramazan – there are many for whom this is their daily life. While we are safe and content in our beds at night – there are many who have no peace, who are always in danger.”Abdulla Shahid, PGA.
Noting that Ramadan is a month that teaches the Muslim communities to empathize with those less fortunate than us, wherever they are and whomever they are, PGA Shahid said that everyone must remember those who are suffering the violence of war and conflict, who perish in poverty and difficult situations.
As such, he stated that it is the underprivileged, the women, the elderly, the disabled, and the children, that suffer the most, in every such situation.
With this brought under the spotlight, PGA Shahid urged the people to include them in prayers during the fasting month and resolve to put in one’s utmost best to make the lives of those who suffer, better.
