AUG 10 — I heard fireworks in the distance in the early morning two days ago. I could imagine their excitement of celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri after fasting for a month.

As in previous years, non-Muslims celebrate the festival with their Muslim friends. I felt warm when I received greeting cards from some non-governmental organisations.

Unfortunately, there was a series of incidents during the Ramadan month this year, including the sex blogger duo’s buka puasa greetings, a “Hari Raya” video featuring dogs, Muslim women’s participation in a beauty contest and students being arranged to eat in changing rooms. The incidents have caused worries over the country’s racial relations. From a positive perspective, however, these incidents could more or less prompt non-Muslims to learn more about Islam.

The nature of my work has provided me some opportunities to learn about Islam. For instance, I was invited to attend buka puasa dinners. I found that many values in the fasting month, particularly in terms of good deeds, are worth learning.

In the month of Ramadan, many organisations would invite orphanage orphans to attend buka puasa dinners and distribute festive aid. Chinese groups organise festive dinners too, but they rarely invite disadvantaged groups to attend.

Some Malay institutions and groups would also take orphans to buy clothes and shoes in the Ramadan month while Chinese-run nursing homes and orphanages have been increasingly neglected during Chinese New Year.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (KLSCCCI) has visited an orphanage in Ulu Kelang and distributed “duit raya” to the orphans for 28 consecutive years. If more Chinese groups join the good deeds, racial relations could be consolidated and the seeds of love would be sowed in the society.

Many mosques and Malay groups would also distribute free bubur lambuk during Ramadan. Cooking bubur lambuk is actually a community activity that can help in improving neighbourhood relations. A bowl of hot porridge can warm the hearts of many. In fact, Chinese entrepreneurs also have the ability to distribute food on festival eves to show their care for low-income earners and those who are homeless.

Muslims also pay zakat (tithes) which would be used to aid less fortunate Muslim groups during Ramadan. It allows donors to sympathise with the less fortunate ones and be thankful for what they have.

Many Chinese companies have also been engaged in charity work. However, if the charity activities could be systematised with a sound mechanism, they could reach a wider range of those in need of assistance.

In addition, Muslims also visit ancestral graves during the Ramadan month and Hari Raya. It carries the meaning of appreciating the contribution and sacrifice of their ancestors, just like the Chinese celebrate the Qingming festival.

The true meaning of Ramadan is to let Muslims feel the pain of hunger to achieve spiritual self-purification. Fasting can guide them to understand the essence of “love”. Meanwhile, compassion could be generated and the spirit of bearing hardship could be cultivated through fasting.

Other religions also carry similar beliefs and values, namely guiding people to perform good deeds. However, the lack of dialogue and communication among different religions has resulted in the absence of mutual understanding. Common grounds have also been blurred while differences are expanded.

I believe that through religion and love, the field of vision can be expanded while minds can be purified and thus, we can treat friends of different racial groups as brothers and sisters.

However, Muslims and non-Muslims are now like strangers who know nothing about each other. We can actually break the ice and let’s start from this Hari Raya. — mysinchew.com

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.