LONDON, Oct 13 (APP): The head priest of protestant Church of England Archbishop Dr.Rowan Williams in his Eid-ul-Fitr message to the Muslim community has said spiritual lives of Muslims are strengthened and deepened through fasting and prayer during the special month of Ramadan.
“It is a great pleasure to be able to send you my warmest greetings on the festival of ‘Eid ul-Fitr and on the faithful completion of the special month of Ramadan in which through fasting and prayer, the spiritual lives of Muslims are strengthened and deepened. Christians may rejoice with Muslim brothers and sisters where such fasting has led to an increase in devotion to God and to the love of neighbour,” said the 104th Archbishop of England.
Dr.Williams spoke of his recent visit to the Middle East and said being able to visit Christian and Muslim leaders in Syria and Lebanon during Ramadan provided a valued opportunity to understand better the stresses that they confront.
He noted that continued neighbourly co-existence of communities that have lived together for thirteen hundred years is now threatened by the consequences of the violent anarchy in Iraq.
“My thanks go to the Government and people of Syria for their care of refugees from Iraq; in Lebanon; my prayers are for the Christian, Muslim and Druze communities, that they will live together, united by the call to worship God and to love our neighbours.”
Speaking about a multicultural Britain, Dr.Williams said ‘in this country, in which we are together both British citizens and citizens of heaven, love of neighbour could happily be our watchword for the year ahead. My hope is that we shall be able to demonstrate the meaning of neighbourly love towards those around us, whether of faith or not. ‘
“May I congratulate you on the faithful completion of Ramadan, wish you a joyful celebration of Eid and pray with you and all people of faith for a just and peaceful year ahead.