A Dream World with Peace!

Toward a world of peace – where neither state nor religious terror shall exist

Around 2013, after each Eid, I used to publish photo albums showing celebrations from different countries. These photos were taken after Eid-ul-Fitr in 2013. I’ve shared only a few images from many, selecting both joyful and sorrowful ones to evoke mixed emotions in the viewer.

The first photo shows a girl from Romania celebrating Eid through a festive photoshoot, capturing the spirit of the holiday. Let me emphasize again – these are photos from 2013. In the second photo, a girl from Karachi lovingly applies henna to someone’s feet. The third photo shows a couple strolling along a sea beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Eid day; beside them is the peaceful coexistence of different cultures. The fourth photo is an Eid congregation in Morocco. In the fifth, a child’s face is accidentally unveiled as her mother’s veil slips off in Srinagar, Kashmir, India. The sixth image shows two children in New York sharing the joy of Eid. These are the natural scenes of celebration. But due to the global coronavirus pandemic in recent years (epidemic vs. pandemic), it’s hard to expect festivals to feel normal. Then again – even during “normal” times, are festivals truly joyous for everyone? Let’s leave aside everyday hardships like hunger and poverty. But have crimes against humanity – murder, injustice – ever taken a break? I don’t see it.

The seventh photo is outside a mosque in New Delhi on Eid day, showing thousands of hungry people crowding for a piece of meat and bread. (And please don’t get pedantic – whether to say “meat” or “gosht”!) Again, this photo is from 2013. Can anyone claim that in the years since, as India’s military power has grown, the number of poor people has decreased proportionally? Has access to ICUs and ventilators increased similarly? The eighth photo also comes from Srinagar, Kashmir. Hindu extremists are seen chanting against the provincial government – after having vandalized local shops. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were once driven out of Kashmir. The ninth photo also shows Srinagar – a woman, nearly lifeless, is being carried away after a clash with police. Those claiming to be the “greatest nation” (though not actually a nation) are often the ones lagging furthest behind in knowledge, science, education, technology, and humane values. Even on Eid, they don’t spare people from bloodshed.

The tenth photo shows a child in Palestine posing with a toy gun. There, children grow up surrounded by weapons, war, violence, and unrest. The Israel–Palestine conflict has persisted for generations, fueled by global politics and the arms trade. Just two days ago, Israel killed several innocent Palestinians including children in an attack. Hamas responded with rocket fire on Israeli cities; and in places like Bangladesh, many viewed this as a victorious jihad and slept soundly thinking Israel was finished. In 34 hours, Hamas launched over 170 rockets but killed only 2 innocent Israelis – because many are clueless about Israel’s advanced air defense. Rather than improve knowledge, science, education, economy, and military sophistication, these groups seem to “progress” only in ignorance! In retaliation, Israel’s advanced weapons are now killing hundreds of Palestinians. Even on Eid, innocent lives – women and children – were lost. It’s the consequence of both Israel’s state terrorism and Hamas’s blind, incompetent violence. Every life on Earth matters – but the world remains silent in the face of Israeli aggression, merely watching.

Guess which country is in the eleventh photo? Yes, Pakistan. A wounded police officer is being taken to the hospital. On Eid day in 2013, a suicide bombing killed 38 and injured over 50. No, Israel didn’t do that – the attackers were extremists from within, either militant groups or sectarian fighters (Shia–Sunni). Such attacks are frequent there – even Eid congregations with thousands gathered entice these terrorists to turn celebration into carnage.

The twelfth and final photo is from Afghanistan – Eid-ul-Fitr 2013. An attack killed about 14 women. In this valley of death, even Eid is never safe. Just days ago, Afghan militants bombed over 70 young girls, killing and maiming hundreds. Many children will now live with permanent trauma. Israel’s attacks in Palestine kill indiscriminately – men, women, children. But Afghanistan’s assault was calculated: targeting Shia girls specifically. Which is a greater crime? Notice how so-called online “jihadists” loudly condemn Israel but stay silent when Afghan terrorists commit atrocities against their own people. A glance at their profiles reveals that they often justify – silently – the targeted murder of Shia girls, though they won’t admit it publicly out of shame.

Today I heard, faintly through a loudspeaker, the supplication of a cleric. He prayed for the peace of the Muslim ummah and called for the destruction of Israel – yet didn’t mention the blatant acts of terrorism happening in Afghanistan. Why? Can’t we hope for the well-being of all humankind while condemning all forms of terrorism? If we can pray for the recovery of COVID-19 patients in Iran and Turkey, why not those in India too? What kind of prayer is this – one that seeks happiness, prosperity, and safety only for one’s own kind? At a grand celebration like Eid, wouldn’t it be nobler, more generous, to pray for peace across the world? And yet, in these prayers, we often hear vivid descriptions of hell’s torment, but never hear calls to dismantle the earthly hells created by human hands. No mention of how we might overcome the forces that perpetuate suffering.

Let our efforts for a humane world be collective and unified. Let us cast aside the false claims of superiority and extinguish hatred. May the entire human race flourish in love, harmony, and mutual respect. n a dream world with peace, borders dissolve into kindness, and every heartbeat hums the rhythm of unity.