On Sunday, 31 July, Muslims in South Africa will mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan. On behalf of the government and people of South Africa we wish the Muslim community well over the fast.
Ramadan is a time of fasting and prayer when members of the Muslim community will desist from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. As South Africans we can be mindful of the needs of Muslims in our workplaces, our homes and in our relations with them.
Ramadan is a time of reflection and rejuvenation. The abstention from material wants is said to purge oneself from thoughts and deeds that is counter to the teachings of Islam. By experiencing the tribulations of the neediest amongst us Muslims are able to identify with the downtrodden amongst us. More importantly the refrain from daily desires steels oneself for the challenges the year ahead poses.
It is also a time when the Muslim community reaches out to poor and lends them a helping hand. These are lessons all South Africans can learn from and emulate. It is in recognising our diversity that our strength as a country lies.
