Many happy returns to our Muslim brothers in Egypt, the Arab region, and the four corners of earth on the occasion of Lesser Bairam (Eid al-Fitr)! We beseech God to protect Egypt and her children and to overwhelm her with prosperity. Now, that a dream is about to come true, we recall one that had preoccupied the Pharaohs’, Greeks’ and Romans’ minds. Yet, Egyptians made it come true through their toil. They realized it with their blood.
Ever since the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, to be Egypt’s present to the whole world, it has carried 10% of the international trade and 22% of the container business of the world. Another dream is yet about to come true: the new Suez Canal.
To understand the root of such great work which will lead to prosperity, we should bear in mind that greatness resides in man’s comprehending the purpose of his creation as well as the importance of positive values which religions promulgate, such as love, mercy, forgiveness, and toil.
First: Man’s Mission
Man is quite precious to God. According to Christianity, God created man in His image and likeness, with relative and limited attributes like love, mercy, and justice. According to Islam, man is God’s steward on earth. He was created to carry out a certain mission, namely, making earth a lovely place. Here it is worthy to quote reposed Pope Shenouda III’s words, “You live to accomplish certain missions: one for yourself and another for the others. If you do so, you will enjoy God. You will behold how sweet He is. Likewise, you live to undergo a test: how much your will is attracted to good or evil. Life is a test which will prove whether you deserve heaven. Thus, you should know your mission and accomplish it. You should be a cause of blessing for your current generation. The more beneficial your mission is, the more glorified your life becomes on earth and in heaven.”
Second: Man and Values
All religions promulgate positive values, such as love, mercy, peace, justice, forgiveness and so forth. Abiding by these values enables humanity to lead a prosperous life. It is really good and hope-inspiring to listen to H.E. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the president, talk on Ramadan 27, 1436 Hijri, about the importance of comprehending religion and abiding by positive values. He said, “Promote love, peace, tolerance, and meeting bad deeds with good ones. Beware that God created us to be on good terms, which, in turn, will make us cooperate for good doing and making earth a better place, being its stewards.” Then he spoke about religious reform which calls for avoiding violence, saying, “When I tackled this subject last year, I did not mean using punitive measures. Rather, I meant a revolution of ideas and knowledge which suits the modern age. The revolution I mean is learning Qoran correctly, without twisting its meanings, which is why the texts are preserved. Yet, the way we should preserve these texts is through protecting them from the deviance that is going on nowadays. Now mark this: Never think that your ultimate mission is delivering a good speech, be it in a church or mosque. There is more to do. Teach people how to love one another. Do not think that “spread peace” is bound to saying, “peace be upon you”, then shooting one another with guns. Rather, the phrase means that you spread love, peace, and respect amidst people.”
Third: Man and Work
In view of our country’s conditions and the great projects to be launched, we have to work. This is what the president called for as he was concluding his speech. We dream of a better future. Thus, we should work. His Excellency said, “Mark this: Help me that we might continue building our future. Let us make this holy month, when the gates of mercy are open, a starting point at which we pledge God to work diligently for our fatherland. Be optimistic that you might find everything good. Throughout the forthcoming time, we shall be launching many great national projects which will reconstruct our country and ensure our children’s future that they might lead a prosperous life. I call upon you to make good deeds your ultimate purpose, beseeching God for mercy and reward in life and afterlife.”
The call for work echoes in religions. According to Christianity, “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” According to Islam, “Work: that God, His prophet and the faithful might see your work.” We also read, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Thus, working honestly and diligently is one of man’s most important roles. He should do his duties, for he will be held accountable for them. Dr. Ahmed al-Tayyeb, Imam of al-Azhar, also spoke of the importance of work on the self-same occasion, saying, “God assigned man work, by which man is distinguished from the rest of the Creation. He is also deemed worthier than any creature. God holds man responsible for his assigned work. Work is the cornerstone of establishing and developing nations. Those who think that good deeds are bound to prayer, fasting, charity, Hajj, and so on, are mistaken. A Muslim who accomplishes all these is not licensed to remain idle, be slothful or treacherous. This idea is wrong. Unfortunately many workers, employees, officials, professors and students make such a mistake. Even worse, sages who educate people make it as well. Gradually, this wrong ideology has become deeply implanted within us. What schizoid! How bad it is to discriminate worship from work, in spite of their equality in responsibility before God.”
He added, “Our country and religion have laid a great mission on your shoulders. God has chosen you to work as diligently as possible for the welfare of your country, and restore her glory. Being responsible, we should tell you that getting paid against no good work is but abominable.
Egypt is now in dire need of work, enthusiasm, and sacrifice that she might emerge from her tribulation and overcome the current hard conditions. All Egyptians have to unite to face evil powers which conspire against our great country, combat terrorism which snatches our dear children of whom the youngest is more precious than the whole world.”
Many happy returns! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
