President Anthony Carmona said this country will do well to follow the example of the Muslim community in their selfless devotion to the economically vulnerable and impoverished, especially in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret.
In his Eid message, Carmona noted that Islam reminds us of our duty and responsibility to serve one another, moreso those less fortunate among us and to do so graciously, without fanfare and with compassion.
“Now, more than ever, with the recent visit upon our shores of Tropical Storm Bret, we are called upon to come together, to help each other and rebuild, through a philosophy of genuine community. Today, many of our citizens are faced with great financial loss, unemployment, emotional hardship, displacement and a sense of hopelessness. It is not easy, for there are many quietly suffering in the trenches of our society.”
He said we must therefore draw guidance, sustenance and hope from the teachings of Islam and the five pillars of Islam which can be lightning rods in our daily lives. He identified one of the pillars, Zakat, which involves the giving of alms to the economically vulnerable and the impoverished.
“We must all therefore not hesitate to assist a brother or sister in distress, be it by way of financial assistance, by being a supportive neighbour or by giving of our time and efforts. That gift of genuine volunteerism is immeasurable. We need each other more than ever. In giving, we must give both in material things and in kind.”
Noting the challenging times, “when a few peddle hate, violence and terror in the name of religion—when it has become easy to blame an entire religion for the transgressions of the few who do not represent the genuine Muslim faith—we must not forget that Islam is a beautiful religion, whose core teachings emphasise peace, love, humanity, respect and inclusivity.”
Indeed, these principles are universal and should serve to bind and guide us all, as we reaffirm our pledge to respect and uphold the dignity of everyone, regardless of our differences. In T&T—this rich melting pot of cultures—it is as much those differences as our commonalities, which make us together, a great nation.”
The President also saluted the women of the Islamic faith, whom he said are constantly confronted by religious prejudice and unjustified stereotypical notions of their roles, functions and place in the society, but who have yet soldiered on, to achieve the highest heights of respect in the corporate world, in governance, in the home and the community.
“Your stewardship and resilience will inspire a little girl somewhere to do great things. Muslim women are women of great influence and outreach. Continue to be custodians of love, compassion peace and harmony in the home, community and nation,” he said.
