Sri Lanka Muslims Fast in Solidarity with Fellow Christians

A leading Sri Lankan Muslim group called on fellow Muslims to observe fasting on Thursday, April 25, in solidarity with their fellow Christians.

FEED THE POOR

Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.

“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)

“ACJU requests all Muslims to fast tomorrow (25th April) and pray to ease the current situation and for those who were affected in the recent terror attack,” the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulema, a body of Muslim scholars, wrote on Twitter.

ACJU requests all Muslims to fast tomorrow (25th April) and pray to ease the current situation and for those who were affected in the recent terror attack.#lka #EasterSundayAttacks #TerrorismHasNoReligion

— ACJU – Sri Lanka (@ACJUNEWS) April 24, 2019

The ACJU is the religious body of Islamic Theologians that provides religious and community leadership to the Sri Lankan Muslim community.

Eight explosions took place on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, including in three Christian churches and three hotels, some commonly used by foreign visitors.

In addition to 207 people who were killed at least, 450 were wounded, according to officials with police, the Colombo Hospital, and St. Sebastian Church.

After the attacks, two Muslim groups in Sri Lanka condemned the attacks on churches and hotels in the country. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said it mourns the loss of innocent people in the blasts by militants who seek to divide religious and ethnic groups.

The ACJU said targeting Christian places of worship cannot be accepted.

The group’s call was widely taken by Twitter users who said they will observe fasting on Thursday.

I am profoundly grieved by the loss of life and and the pain of my fellow brothers and sisters. Losing loved ones is deeply painful
I am fasting tomorrow to supplicate to God to ease the pain and mend the hearts#lka #EasterSundayAttacks #TerrorismHasNoReligion #MyFastMySriLanka https://t.co/CxEOTtlzDV

— Azam Bakeer-Markar (@azambm) April 24, 2019

I’m fasting today for the ease of the victims of the terrorist attack and for the peace of my country, will refrain from any kind of food and drinks from dawn to dusk!#MyFastMySriLanka ❤

— T H A L A I V A N (@_xziya) April 24, 2019

THREAD : Together with my fellow Sri Lankan Muslims, I will be fasting tomorrow from dawn to dusk. I will be foregoing any food and drink during this period. #MyFastMySriLanka #lka #TerrorHasNoReligion 1/6

— Raashid Riza راشد رضا (@aufidius) April 24, 2019

I am fasting today for the ease of the victims and their families, for my country to be free of parasites.. for solidarity because I am Sri Lanka #MyFastMySriLanka #lka #EasterSundayAttacksLK https://t.co/TPvLHg6P03

— Sarah Afker (@sarahafker) April 24, 2019

Fasting is a special act of worship done by Muslims, it is a time and state in which prayers are answered. It is a state in which it is incumbent upon us to be more charitable, with our time, warmth and whatever we could share. #MyFastMySriLanka #lka #TerrorHasNoReligion 4/6

— Raashid Riza راشد رضا (@aufidius) April 24, 2019

Sri Lankan Muslims’ bold answer to terrorists – “If you blow up their Churches, we will open our Mosques for them to pray” – this should be the spirit. To fast today in solidarity with Christians & others. #MyFastMySriLanka https://t.co/whyeypsbJz

— AMadumoole (@AMadumoole) April 25, 2019

Islam is a minority religion in the island nation of Sri Lanka which lies south of India in the Indian Ocean.

The world’s fastest-growing and second largest religion, Islam, represents no more than 9.66% in Sri Lanka, which means 1,997,361 persons only out of the country’s 21.2 million population are Muslims, according to 2012 census.