The Muslim community in Guyana joins Muslims around the world in starting the month-long fast and other acts of devotion in observance of Ramadan.
According to a press release from the Muslin Youth League (MYL) president Shabir Hussain during this month on the lunar Islamic calendar Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from the break of dawn to sunset. The fast is performed in order to cultivate discipline, self-restraint and generosity.
The MYL urges Muslims to capitalize on the opportunity to gain maximum spiritual benefits by observing the fast and other religious activities during the month with utmost sincerity “so that we can achieve success in this life and the hereafter.” It also reminded followers that as they focus on self-restraint and acts of charity to achieve self-reform, they must be sure to demonstrate same to the wider community as “We cannot totally reform ourselves without reforming the communities we live in.” It urges believers to dispense with anger, arrogance and hatred and to cultivate love, friendship, humility, patience and tolerance. “This will give us ever-lasting peace, but, peace must never be held ransom to justice nor justice held ransom to peace,” the release said.
Islam is one of the world’s most prominent religions which “firmly upholds the principle of respect for all human beings and all religions.” However, in many countries, Muslims and other believers are unable to perform rituals stemming from their beliefs and as such the MYL prays for the day when people of all faiths can express their beliefs without fear of persecution or discrimination.
The release said too Ramadan brings a promise of renewal and hope for the world each year and “as we greet the new moon for Ramadan, we pray that we will usher in a new era of tolerance, respect and cooperation.” It said too Muslims should use the month-long fast to “build bridges and not walls, so that with unity of purpose, we can cause growth and development of Islam and our country.”
