A Blessed Eid, Nonetheless

The holy month of Ramadan has come to an end, and tomorrow is Eid Al-Fitr.

Yet the mood is sombre.

4 plane crashes/ disappearances in just 3 months.

Death toll in Gaza has exceeded 1000 in just 3 weeks.

Syrian casualties have already surpassed the 100,000-160,000 mark until human rights groups have stopped trying to keep track of the exact number. 

IS militants destroying the holy shrines of Prophet Yunus (Jonah, pbuh) and Prophet Daniel (pbuh) along with many others, not forgetting the exiling of Iraqi Christians. (link)

And what was previously the holy resting places of the Prophet's family is now full of Paris Hilton shops, swanky hotels and car parks. (link)

The world has turned into a total mess. It's hard not to become depressed from reading scores and scores of such news.

Well...

What about that Norwegian doctor who put everything down to go to Gaza to help save the wounded?

Or Christians and Muslims alike, giving their churches and mosques for shelter and prayer regardless of the religion?

Or that Israeli woman who pushed away an Israeli soldier who was about to attack a Palestinian kid?

Or the Muslims in Gaza continuing to pray at the area which was once their mosque but is now in ruins? Or muslim women wearing their hijab even while at home because if they die, at least they'd be discovered covered?

And with every death of a child, though the father weeps, his strong, clear recitation of the shahada is unmistakeable. 

Video after video we hear and see them proclaiming God's greatness even as they live in pain and suffering. They are not afraid of death themselves- they know God is with them.

This Eid, there is still a cause to celebrate. Because with terror and evil, goodness and hope is not only just present, it becomes stronger. And as the lines of humanity in the world become more and more blurred, I'd just remember to look to the normal civilians, the kids, the everyday-people. The ones who smile despite all the hardship. They are the ones who are displaying the purest examples of love, peace and unwavering faith.

Eid Mubarak and salam.