You are here

Time to ponder

Jun 24,2017 - Last updated at Jun 24,2017

Particularly at times marking religious holidays, like this Eid Al Fitr, which comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims pray and hope for good tidings, for personal well-being and for peace in their countries and all over the world.

This year, there are no exceptions in the things wished for; exceptional, however, are the inter-Arab relations, perhaps at their worst in recent times.

After a long month of fasting, unfortunately people have very little to rejoice about the coming holiday, as conflicts within and between different Arab countries have intensified, economic conditions have worsened and the future no longer appears bright.

At the same time, there should be awareness that most of our woes are of our own making, and the colonial powers that once controlled the destinies of the Arab countries cannot be blamed any longer.

Some soul searching for a proper assessment of the root causes of Arab and Muslim hardships and misfortunes is long overdue.

Summits were supposed to address problems and bridge rifts, but they seem to have failed because an honest and candid exchange of views has been lacking in the case of many of those attending those meetings.

After a month of fasting and meditation, Arabs and Muslims should attempt to correct their paths; this eid could be the starting point for that.

The answers to many problems lie within each and every one of us.

People make their countries what they are. They elect their representatives, make economic and business decisions that affect their countries, and set national priorities.

No matter how one looks at what goes wrong, in the final analysis it is the people who are responsible. 

This holiday could be an occasion to review our personal contribution to the nation and to search for solutions, both to personal and to national problems.

And, to believe the saying, after storm comes sunshine.

So, hopefully, the wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen will come to an end, extremist terrorists will be weeded out from the midst of terrorised populations, leaders will see the merits of harmonious relations and the darkness enveloping much of the Arab world will give place to sunlight and hope.

 

Happy Eid!

up
39 users have voted.


Newsletter

Get top stories and blog posts emailed to you each day.

PDF