1430 Raya message

(NOTE: Post-Khutbah edits)

By the time you read this, it may already be eid in your part of the world.
You may enjoy the festivities and celebrations, or you may not. You may like the custom and traditions, or you may not. Whatever your view, the holiday's back again so might as well make the most of it.

Many will already be - or have someone else- ironing their colourful new clothes. If you, like me, are of Malay persuasion, you may also have ready by now your buttons, and songkoks, and songkets. I've only mentioned them in plurals but it's ok to have just one.

Most will now be with their families. Maybe you're reading this in the Klang Valley, the last chance for access to a working internet before balik kampung tomorrow. Maybe you won't even see this post until the meriam buluhs are silent, and your Paklong Makngah Ayah Cik all on their way back to their respective homes all over Malaysia.

Or you could just be at home watching Ria, and ignoring all the children scarfing down your mum's kuih. But you'll be there: Home.

Me? I'll be here in Melbourne working on my assignment, with raya songs playing in the background.

Don't bother with pity. It may not be home, but it's close enough.

Now for the difficult matter of forgiveness.

Let's for a minute believe that the Eid practice of seeking forgiveness is no superficial ritual, and that those are real tears rolling down her cheeks.

Cynicism makes all that difficult to swallow, but  forgiveness is as much a part of Eid as discipline and abstinence were for Ramadhan. Religion teaches us that without reconciliation - of conflicts, misunderstandings, disputes, etc., everything we put in the past month hangs in limbo.

Interesting idea isn't it? That the improvement of your relationship with god is entirely contingent on your making peace with your fellow men. It's like saying being religious is pointless if you can't get along with other human beings.

So let's give it a go.

I'm no saint, and I'm pretty sure my wrongs fill volumes.
I therefore humbly and sincerely take this opportunity to minta maaf zahir dan batin from you and everyone reading this. Let's let bygones be bygoneslah ok?

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri dear readers. May Allah accept your Ramadhan's worth of fasting worship and good deeds.