The best way to learn about a culture is to go where they play and pray so the disruption to the Eid celebrations around the world diminishes us all.
I have a special connection with Eid.
As it was one of the early stories I covered as part of a column ‘Church News’ which I broadened beyond Christianity.
Eid ul-Adha, to give it its first full name, means ‘the celebration of the sacrifice’.
And it brings to an end the holy month of Ramadan.
All our story
It marks the story of Allah asking The Prophet Mohammed in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismael.
Which Jews and Christians will know as the Abraham and Isaac story.
It should come as little surprise to us that Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the same roots and stories.
But it is nowhere more evident than at the crossroads of the great religions in the Jordan valley and in Israel.
Ever the diplomat
Where I would readily recommend my G Adventures host Zuhair Zuriqat.
His diplomatic prowess in managing our international party surely marks him out.
To broker the peace in this part of the world.
Now you know I love a festival as much if not more than the next man or woman…
And that those festivals normally involve drink.
Festival time
But not always.
I am transfixed by religious festivals too and will gladly travel the world to witness or take part in them.
Of course, the world being a smaller place, particularly now, we should also acknowledge that many of these festivals are on our doorstep.
Which is why it is alarming to hear that the lightning lockdowns in the north of England on the eve of Eid weekend may be deliberate.
Eid is all about extended families coming together at each others’ houses.
And there is more than a hint of mistrust from our politicians here who do not think that Muslims can adapt their customs accordingly to the pandemic.
When in fact they are already doing so around the world with Turkey a prime example.
Of course Istanbul as we saw on our televisions with the Hagia Sofya celebrations last week is even more epic when its citizens come out to pray.
But they too are adapting their Eid to the current circumstances.
Sing out
That means communal prayers are cancelled to be replaced with broadcast prayers from the minarets of mosques.
Now just think about that… would our Government cancel Christmas, and with just a few hours’ notice? Time will tell but you have to think not.
EID MUBARAK OR (AS THEY SAY IN TURKEY) BAYRAMINIZ KUTLU OTSUN
