On Syria, Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr
Bismillah AlRahman AlRaheem
“And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan and the captive” (Surah Al-Insan).
Marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan should be a joyous experience, a time that brings together families to celebrate, to share and to re-new our bonds.
This year however, we will mark this time with heavy hearts. As Muslim faith leaders our thoughts, prayers and calls for justice will be with the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children being forced to live under siege in Syria.
How can we celebrate the end of Ramadan when so many of our brothers and sisters are being starved to death? Their collective punishment is a blight on humanity, especially those who profess to hold Islamic values, and is an urgent call to action.
The International Syria Support Group which has been leading efforts to resolve the conflict, and that includes Muslim nations like the Arab Republic of Egypt, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanese Republic, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, has had it demands for sieges to be lifted in Syria callously ignored by the warring parties.
With Ramadan coming to an end we raise our voices to call upon all Muslim countries with influence over those warring parties in Syria to remember their faith and address the plight of all those Syrians suffering in silence and under siege.
As Muslims, our faith runs deeper than the politics of the moment. Our faith calls on us to feel with the vulnerable and those in need no matter their political affiliation; to give and to show compassion.
In the Spirit of Ramadan it is time for all those Muslim countries with influence in Syria to show such compassion and to do everything in power to break the sieges across Syria that every Muslim should be ashamed of and deplore.
Signed,
Ahmed al-Dujaili
Sayyed Jawad Al-Khoei
Sheikh Faris al-Khaqani
Sheikh Hayder al-Sahlani
Sayyid Hussain al-Khirsan
Sayyid Salih al-Hakim
Sheikh Walid Farajallah al-Assadi