Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, dare leaders
Muslims in the country yesterday celebrated Eid ul-Fitr with a call for leaders to reflect on the impact they make on their followers and that followers should accord them respect.
Central Region Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) chairperson Sheikh Sherriff Kaisi made the call yesterday in his address to Muslims who gathered at Kamuzu Stadium upper ground in Blantyre to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
He said: “If you are President, a member of Parliament or a manager at a company reflect how much impact you have made to your people, thus beginning of development.
“All problems Malawians are facing need collective effort, but as a leader you will be answerable one day on why your followers were hungry or why they were lacking a bridge.”
Kanjedza resident Bushillah Chopi, who attended the prayers, said Ramadan has left her and other Muslims with a lesson to love one another, including people of other religions.
“I wish all those in the hospital well. As women, we should continue giving zakat to the less-privileged,” she said.
The prayers were attended by the national grand mufti Sheikh Uthuman Mthalika and former United Democratic Front president Atupele Muluzi.
Speaking to journalists after the prayers, Atupele said God preaches about love and as a country we need to learn from the challenges Malawians are facing for future possible solutions.
“As Muslims, we pray for peace and stability and we should take care of those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” he said.
Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim festival celebrated to mark the end of 30 days of prayer and fasting (Ramadan) and is celebrated during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.
Prayers were held across the country to mark the day.
Eid ul-Fitr is a public holiday in Malawi.
