Previously, Eid festivity was observed here across the Muslim world. Generally Lesser Eid is regarded as the festival of breaking of the fast, also called Feast of Breaking the Fast. Eid, is an important religio-cultural festivity celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-dust fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. It is said that Eid is a religio-cultural practice marked by wide socialization, expression of love, sympathy, dedication, and solidarity towards underprivileged, handicapped, oppressed and denied section of societies. The question emerges which solidarity are we talking of, when most if not all the Muslim world is suffering extremism, terrorism, intolerance, socially segregated and worst polarized.
Nominally it is proclaimed, on this very day, Muslims around the world show a common goal of unanimity and harmony. Nonetheless, the real picture is gloomy and unacceptably admissible. It is true to claim that Muslim displayed a matchless resort of unity by expressing solidarity at endless atrocities executed against fellow brothers in Yemen. Elsewhere, in Iraq and Syria Muslims brothers are viciously engaged and are not tired of butchering the lives of Muslim brothers in their quest to power gains. Neither, the act of solidarity is demonstrated with aggrieved Yemenis nor reckless bloodshed is widely condemned. Most if not all Muslim countries and organization kept mum over heinous crimes carried out against Muslims either in Muslims world or elsewhere.
Till date we are expecting the Muslim world would come forth to play their part by devising strategies, to put down the immediate burning issues of the Middle East. However, disparagingly, the Muslim world along its organizations, such as the summit of the Arab League (AL) or the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) showed negligible interest in the issue instead the stillness was prioritized. It is the point of utter dignity; the Muslims selflessly extend a helping hand to their oppressed and suppressed brothers whilst celebrating the joys of Eid festivals.
Undoubtedly, Eid is accompanied by celebrations of joys, delight, cheers and enchantment. Happiness is a mental state, acquired not through veneration, but exercising of good deeds. Sharing joys rendered to be the principle philosophy operating behind this festivity. Nonetheless, the spirit of all such pleasures gets dimmed, and delights diffused, sensing the magnitude of countless life losses across the Muslims world from Nigeria to Afghanistan. Somewhere the aggressor’s occupants elsewhere the extremist elements are found, behind the ongoing agonies of Muslims.
Fatefully, Muslims have earned international fame in pretext to terrorism, extremism and fanaticism. If you have got a Muslim name, you are in trouble and put to through scrutiny at entrances, particularly if you would be tripping a western country. Al-Qaida the sole, reason for such notorious fame, still seeks covert financial and political support from some of wealthy Muslims countries. Taliban who backed and supported Al-Qaida deemed to be sole factor behind long-lasting anguish of Afghans is tried to join the political course through peace talks.
Intra-religious conflict is another dimension; some of Muslim countries are exploiting the sectarian affiliation of concerned sectarian group to further their political interests in another fellow country. There are several countries where the hostility of majority sect towards minority has reached to the point of no return, that the opposite sect is publically labeled infidel and worthy of butchery. Couldn’t OIC come forth to address these pressing issues on emergency basis?
It is true that Islamophobia is being pursued by a group of extremist and radical elements in the West who bear an inexplicable grudge against Islam and Muslims. It is also fact that they have a motivated agenda of hatred and racial discrimination, stereotyping and stigmatization of Islam and Muslims. Without being at fault nobody dares to raise finger at anyone. It is undeniable fact that some of the most wanted terrorists are harbored by some countries and enjoy covert patronage. It can not the only way to seek a political gain, but there are several other routes to sustainable progress and advancements.
It is not the only role of OIC to expose the dangerous game of the Islamophobes and the perilous implications of their actions to the international community. It is the utmost responsibility of OIC member countries to lay down severe punishment for anybody accused of any act leading to earn infamy for Muslims. The Islamophobia and its propaganda machine will automatically be perished. But OIC member states have to apply strict rational laws be it domestic or international in curbing all menaces that tarnish their real image.
It is worth mentioning the June 2008, OIC summit that revised its charter. Within the revised charter, the OIC has chosen to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international law. Contrary to the assertions made meager human rights is observed in most, if not all, OIC member countries. The rhetoric made in the summits can not do away the endemic problems of Muslim world, unless their leaders do not change their obsolete insight entailing paradigm shift in their thinking perspectives and begin pursuing the latest scientific and technological advancements with inclusion to adoption of a rational system of governing.
It is time the Muslim countries prioritize education economy and disband extremism and terrorism and rationalize its religion. Muslims being resources sufficient, suffers multifaceted endemic socio-political and religious problems. It is regretting the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims have produced only two Nobel laureates in chemistry and physics. The 57 countries in the Organization of the Islamic Conference spend a frail 0.81% of GDP on research and development, about a third of the world average. America, which has the world’s biggest science budget, spends 2.9%; Israel lavish 4.4%. If the world has earned prominence through rule of law, safeguarding of human rights we can not excel by suppression and subjugation by violence. Without having changed the flawed perception of ruling the world –through exercise of fear, bloodshed, repression and subjugation, we simply will be driven to blind alley –there will not be light at the end of tunnel.