By MALIK MERCHANT
Calgary, Alberta

The 24-48 hours leading up to Eid ul-Fitr 2024 will be unique. On Monday, April 8, the moon will obscure the sun for several seconds to a few minutes across many parts of Mexico, the USA, and Eastern Canada, putting the solar eclipse’s path in total darkness. The majority in North America will only view a partial eclipse.

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The sighting of the New Moon is expected to occur on April 9, leading to the auspicious occasion of Eid ul-Fitr on Wednesday, April 10. A new Islamic month, Shawal will have begun, following an intense month, Ramadhan, dedicated to prayers, purity, good works, and fasting during the daytime.

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This year’s Eid, on April 10, coincides with the 50th birthday of Prince Hussain Aga Khan, the 3rd child of His Highness the Aga Khan. On the following day, April 11, his nephew, Prince Irfan Aga Khan, son of Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa, will turn 9. Barakah will carry unique pieces for both Princes on their birthdays.

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While we prepare to celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, we present to our readers a few essential thoughts to carry in our hearts and minds for this particular time of the year. We turn to messages in the Qur’an, the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his progeny), the first Imam, Hazrat Ali (may peace be upon him), and Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. The selected messages are the foundation blocks for building harmonious societies worldwide. The acts of charity and generosity mentioned in the quotes will encourage those underprivileged to plan for their future and manage their destinies, thereby leading them to a life of dignity, befitting Allah’s most incredible creation.

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“The poor are not mere inanimate, unmotivated, units of deprivation. They are living, thinking people like the rest of us.” His Highness the Aga Khan, Aiglemont, March 16, 1983.

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR EID UL-FITR

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteous is the one who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and the angels and the Books and the prophets, and gives away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and set slaves free.” — Holy Qur’an, 2:177.

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“And whatever good you may spend on others is for your own good, provided that you spend only out of a longing for God’s countenance.” — Holy Qur’an, 2:272.

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“You will not enter paradise till you believe, and you will not believe till you love one another. Let me guide you to something by doing which you will love one another: Salute and sundry among you.”  — Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his progeny).

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“Have a tender heart, as tender as a fistful of green grass; be not arrogant and stiff as a tree upright in a forest. A tree is toppled in a storm, but grass bends and sways happily with the wind.” — Hazrat Ali, Kalam-e-Mawla, 8:67.

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“A great river is not made turbid by a stone. A religious man who takes to heart an injury is as yet, but shallow water. If any misfortune befalls you, bear with it, that by forgiving others you may yourself obtain pardon. O my brother! seeing that we are at last to return to earth, let us humble ourselves in ashes before we are changed into dust.” — Hazrat Bibi Fatima, quoted in Ilm, July 1986, page 17, published by the Ismailia Association for the UK (now known as the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board, ITREB).

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“…As the world gets smaller, it is fundamental that people should work together and not against each other, and try to be a little more generous than you have been in the past. If people have made mistakes, forgive them their mistakes. If people have harmed you, forget and forgive. Do not hold grudges. Do not turn around and say, ‘he hurt me yesterday, so I will hurt him today’. This is not the spirit of Islam…” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Mumbai, 1969, Precious Gems.

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“Islam is not passive. It does not admit that man’s spiritual needs should be isolated from his material daily activities. A Muslim must play an active role in helping his family and the brotherhood of believers. The object is not to achieve status, wealth and power, but to contribute to society’s overall development. This implies moral responsibility to help the weaker, less fortunate members.” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Toronto, May 14, 1987, Ilm, Volume 13, Number 1, July 1990, page 45-46, published by ITREB (UK).

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“…when you are studying the Qur’an, when you are studying the history of Imams, when you are studying the history of pre-Islamic Arabia, I would like you to take from this history that which will help you to live within the spirit of Islam. This means to live honestly, to live purely, to know that you are brothers and sisters, to be available at all times when one or the other needs help, to be generous, to be honest. These are the qualities which you can trace throughout Qur’an-e Shariff, throughout the life of the Prophet, throughout the lives of the Imams. And this is something which I would like you to follow, not only in letter but also in spirit, because it is this spirit which cannot be changed, and which I would like my spiritual children to understand fully…” Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Karachi, November 29, 1964, Farman Mubarak Pakistan Visit 1964, published by the Ismailia Association for Pakistan, quoted also in Ilm, Volume 13, Number 1, July 1990, page 38, published by ITREB (UK).

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“There are those who enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their lot. Unless these unfortunate ones can be touched with the spark which ignites the spirit of individual enterprise and determination, they will only sink back into renewed apathy, degradation and despair. It is for us, who are more fortunate, to provide that spark.” —  Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, speech, Housing and Development, Mumbai, January 17, 1983.

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“The poor are not mere inanimate, unmotivated units of deprivation. They are living, thinking people like the rest of us.” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Aiglemont, March 16, 1983.

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A Muslim must play an active role in helping his family and the brotherhood of believers. The object is not to achieve status, wealth and power, but to contribute to society’s overall development. This implies moral responsibility to help the weaker, less fortunate members.” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Toronto, May 14, 1987.

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“On the occasion of my Silver Jubilee, I would be deeply happy if the members of my jamat [community], wherever they are and whatever their age, would reaffirm in a visible and united manner their commitment to the principles of Islam which bind all Muslims together, and which are unique example to all mankind: Belief in Allah, the fulfillment of His message to man, respect and support for His greatest creation, man himself. In this way let us establish even sounder foundations for a good and proper life and let us extend our support to those living in the developing areas of the world.” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Talika Mubarak, Silver Jubilee, July 11, 1982, quoted in Ilm, July 1990, page 55, and several other worldwide Ismaili magazines.

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“On the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, I send my special loving blessings to my Jamats throughout the world for your happiness, peace, safety, and good health. My family joins me in wishing you all Eid Mubarak.

“It is my wish that my Jamat should look to the future with hope and courage, in keeping with its age-old tradition of unity, generosity and mutual support which has at all times enabled it to move forward to a position of enhanced strength and resilience, from generation to generation.

“My spiritual children should always remain mindful that it is the principles of our faith that will bring peace and solace in these times of uncertainty. I am with my Jamat at all times, and each of you, individually, is always in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers.

“I send my most affectionate paternal, maternal loving blessings to all my Jamat — for happiness, good health, confidence and security in your lives ahead, and for mushkil-asan [protection from difficulties].” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Talika Mubarak, May 23, 2020.

Date posted: April 6, 2024.

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REVIEW BARAKAH’S TABLE OF CONTENTS AND VISIT ITS SISTER WEBSITES

Before departing this website, please take a moment to visit Barakah’s Table of Contents for links to more than 325 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. Also, visit our two sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos. Barakah’s editor, Malik, may be reached at mmerchant@barakah.com.