Eid Message

An Eid ul Fitr (2021) 

Message to all the students and staff and friends of the University of Portsmouth

Assalama Alaikum Peace be upon you all!

It is the end of Ramadan and we are looking forward to Eid. Tonight, we will be asking our friends and families if the moon been sighted. Discussion will take place on the sighting of the moon; whether there is the possibility of moon being sighted or is it only the astronomical new moon etc. People will also be enquiring from their local mosques about the timing of Eid prayers etc.

Eid ul Fitr literally means, the festival of breaking the fast, on this day we are thankful to the Almighty, our creator for enabling us to have fasted during the month of Ramadan, reciting the Qur’an and restraining ourselves from foul speech whilst bearing the pangs of hunger and the dry mouth from the lack of drink. Ramadan comes with all its blessings to enable us to seek a sense of peace and tranquillity. 

I pray that all our beautiful acts of kindness, worship and charity are accepted by the Almighty the Compassionate and after this concentrated effort during the period of fasting to reform our characters and seek forgiveness for our misdeeds for the previous year, we can now rejoice on the day of Eid and enjoy food and drink during the daylight hours. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to all of those less fortunate than us. Those who have no food to celebrate Eid, those who are enduring poverty, war and oppression.

Eid Mubarak to you all from me, the chaplaincy, and the University of Portsmouth!

Dr Amra Bone, University of Portsmouth

amra.bone@port.ac.uk