HARI Raya Aidilfitri is less than a week away, as Ramadan draws its curtains to mark a religious victory for Muslims who strengthened their resolve and willpower through the act of fasting.
But fasting is much more than just staying resilient against the trappings of hunger and thirst; Ramadan is a time for one to learn more about one’s inner steadfastness in embracing the essence of sincerity, humility, patience, empathy and forgiveness, among the many noble virtues that make us ultimately human.
Such traits can be found in the homogeny of Malaysians as tolerant and accepting people.
It is something that we tend to be proud of time and again, as seen from numerous stories of unity and friendship that warm the heart, the fierce spirit with which all races cheer on our national athletes and teams, as well as the welling of our eyes over those universally touching festive corporate ads.
But as we all know, Malaysians still have a long way to go before we can truly live in harmony.
Recent events that threaten to tear apart our social fabric are undoubtedly heartbreaking and painful to bear.
For how long will we continue to gnaw and scrape at each other’s sensitivities, or gaze at our neighbours in suspicion? This is a question we must all ponder for the sake of the country’s future.
If there is anything that we can learn from the month-long perseverance during Ramadan, it is to remain resilient in the face of adversity and find the strength to forgive.
The latter can be the first step in mitigating distrust and opening doors to truly understanding – not merely tolerating – each other. It is a crucial step in easing pain, quelling anger and finding respite from the fireworks of animosity.
This is not a call to do the impossible. It is not to prod for change, nor is it politically correct rhetoric often used for mileage. It is a sincere reminder for all of us to return to our roots as Malaysians – the people who took the Rukun Negara pledge as the creed to hold this country together.Forgiveness must be met with the zeal to find and resolve the crux of problems that stop us from being truly united – problems that should not be left as thorns in our side to fester and threaten the future.
Failing to find amicable solutions to instances of trespasses and mistakes will be a disservice to our nation. For all the years we have endured and for all our successes since gaining Independence and forming what is now called Malaysia, we owe it to our future generations to leave a legacy of lasting peace and harmony.
The upcoming Syawal is a month of new beginnings, during which Muslims seek forgiveness from one another on the first day. Over plates of rendang, lemang and ketupat, we share laughter and joy with our family and friends, and thanks to that uniquely Malaysian tradition of “open house”, those friends are often of many races.
It is why this present time was chosen by a group of civil society and media organisations to launch the #MZB365 movement.
It’s a call for all Malaysians to fight all forms of hatred with the grace of “maaf zahir dan batin”, the practice of seeking and giving forgiveness. The words might come from Islamic teaching, but this is a practice that is part of the beliefs of all religions. And it is something we are calling on everyone to practise not just during Syawal but all year round, hence the “365”.
Join us in this call, and also in wishing all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya and much joy (and feasting!) to all.
