Eid Mubarak – Blessed Feast. Assalam o Alaikum – Peace be upon you.

It is the end of Ramadan, and about two billion Muslims around the world are ready to celebrate the major feast in their faith, along with the faithful in other related religions, especially Christians and others who live with or near Muslims. The message of peace is always important, and especially so this year, with several major wars and conflicts, the latest being in the Middle East, where the USA and Israel have attacked Iran.

Prayers for peace have become both the first and the last resort, but it is people, especially leaders, who must act upon those prayers – in Israel and Palestine, in Gaza and the West Bank, in Sudan, South Sudan, parts of Ethiopia and Somalia, in Russia and Ukraine, and in other parts of the world where conflicts exist within and between countries and regions.

There are many structural conflicts in the world, less visible but just as cruel as direct conflicts and wars, often lying behind them before they erupt and remaining after they have ended. Inequalities between rich and poor countries, the Global North and the Global South, continue to grow rather than decline, as do inequalities within countries, with most refugees and internally displaced people living in poor countries during and after direct conflicts. This year, people everywhere, especially in developing countries, including Pakistan, are experiencing many difficulties as prices rise and unemployment affects many, made worse by the ongoing war in Iran.

Those of us who may not be directly affected have a duty to help others in our midst, and certainly those who are in immediate need. Or we can at least advocate for greater justice in the world through organisations, political parties, teaching, or in other ways. It is the responsibility of each of us to have our goals right, to talk to others, and to listen to what others say. Through that, we can help create a better environment for peace and justice in the world, which little by little may help move the world in the right direction.

The Sunday before last, on International Women’s Day on 8 March, I listened to a religious service from Fridalen Church in Bergen, Norway, situated next door to the Brann football stadium. It was two days after World Day of Prayer, organised annually by Christian laywomen in over 170 countries as an ecumenical initiative, which this year was led by Nigeria under the motto, “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action”. In the church service in Bergen, the priest, Reverend Eli Johanne Rønnekleiv, asked: Do women pray differently from men? She did not draw a conclusion, wisely enough, and instead encouraged each of us to consider the question. The way men and women pray may not be different, but the topics may often differ. Now that Eid is here, I believe women have been concerned about, and have prayed for, a pleasant celebration for young and old family members, relatives, and friends. Many women, perhaps more than men, would have prayed for the direct needs of everyone in their homes and neighbourhoods. Men would also have prayed for that, but with greater concern about providing the income and money for it all, so that the Eid celebrations can be as good as possible, with women usually handling the practical issues. We should not overlook that creating the right atmosphere does not only have to do with food and material things, but also with immaterial aspects and the creation of a pleasant environment.

Some may ask not only whether men and women pray differently, but also whether Muslims and Christians pray differently. The general answer would be no in terms of content, but there would be differences in form, even between Sunnis and Shiites, when praying in the mosque, where usually only men attend, though more women are beginning to attend. There are also differences between the prayers found in the holy books of the Quran and the Bible. But after all, God is one and the same, and many prophets are common to both religions. I believe that the two religions could do more to share prayers in public and honour each other’s concerns and the issues surrounding holy feasts such as Eid ul Fitr. We should also draw attention to the main prayer topics of people in all religions and in different parts of the world, with different challenges and situations, while being reminded, too, that this year the Iranian/Persian New Year, in the midst of war, falls at the same time as Eid ul Fitr.

Prayers for peace and unity will always be the most important, along with prayers for good health and control of disease, favourable weather, freedom from sudden and other natural disasters, and good conditions for people to live in harmony, be good custodians of nature, and share its resources fairly. In all religions, people are also called to help those in need and show mercy to everyone. Certainly, prayers are also offered in thanks to God, Allah, especially at the end of Ramadan and at Eid ul Fitr. In all religions, praising and thanking God is essential in prayer, as is praying for our ability and willingness to love our fellow human beings.

Last year’s theme for the United Nations International Day of Peace, observed annually on 21 September, was “Act Now for a Peaceful World”. The theme emphasised the urgent need for concrete individual and collective action to foster peace, combat inequality, and address the root causes of conflict in a turbulent world. Let us hope that when this year’s UN Day of Peace arrives in early autumn, some or all of the major conflicts and wars in the world will have ended or become less intense. Alas, that is wishful thinking, unless we all pray for peace and encourage our leaders to take concrete worldly steps to build a better world in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere. As we know, it is people who pray and receive answers to prayer, and it is we human beings who must implement God’s will.

A few days ago, speaking at the weekly Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV made an impassioned plea for peace in the Middle East as the world watches an escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and their supporters, which has already resulted in thousands of casualties, destruction of infrastructure in several countries, reduced oil availability, soaring prices, and fears of further escalation and spread of the war. The Pope said: “On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all men and women of goodwill, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict.” He said there should be a ceasefire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened, stressing that “violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that the people are waiting for”.

Let me end my article with the words I used at the beginning:

Eid Mubarak – Blessed Feast.

Assalam o Alaikum – Peace be upon you.

Atle HetlandThe writer is a senior Norwegian social scientist with experience from university, diplomacy and development aid. He can be reached at atlehetland@yahoo.com

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