EL SHADDAI April 14, 2017 Good Friday
Written by Anuradha Varma | New Delhi | Updated: April 14, 2017 1:57 pm Good Friday is usually spent in quiet contemplation and prayer, with the main ceremonies of Way of the Cross and Passion of Lord Jesus Christ held at 4 pm, the time of the original crucifixion. (Source: Thinkstock Images)
Its Good Friday and the important thing to remember is that good doesnt necessarily mean happy. Whether its Muharram or Good Friday, both traditionally days of mourning, Muslims and Christians are often at the receiving end of the wrong kind of wishes.
Last year, a host of ministers (not that we expect anything better from politicians currently!) wished the Christian community Happy Good Friday and the saving grace came with an appropriately worded tweet from the Prime Minister. Of course, this year, the community has bigger issues to deal with, as the governments collective amnesia led to designating the date as Digital India Day.
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To get back to the topic at hand, as one Catholic puts it, Its probably the Good part that leaves people confused. In most other languages, the prefix used is sacred or holy and in Hindi, its pavitra (pure), explains Reverend Dr Donald H R De Souza, Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Lucknow. But, its a good Friday, since its the day Jesus Christ died on the cross for the salvation of humankind. The day is usually spent in quiet contemplation and prayer, with the main ceremonies of Way of the Cross and Passion of Lord Jesus Christ held at 4 pm, the time of the original crucifixion. So, how does one wish or show support to a friend from the community? Says Rev Donald DSouza, You can acknowledge the significance of the crucifixion or share good wishes for their prayers. Good Friday is followed by Holy Saturday, a day of silence, hope and expectation, leading to the Solemn Easter Vigil at night as one awaits Jesus Resurrection on Easter Sunday, a day of joy and celebration.
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Good Friday is followed by Holy Saturday, a day of silence, hope and expectation. (Source: Thinkstock Images)The situation is similar during Muharram, when people from the Islamic community are hard pressed to explain to people that its not a celebration. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan tells us that the word Muharram literally means forbidden. He explains, Muharram is one of the sacred months of the Islamic calendar. The month is sacred in the sense that during this violence and fighting are forbidden. On the ritual of self-flagellation associated with it, he explains, Only some, and not all, Muslims used to mark the day by self-flagellation. The meaning of this self-flagellation is to give a symbolic representation of the tragedy that happened with Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet, in 680 AD at Karbala in Iraq. The flagellation is not an Islamic injunction, and now it has been minimised to a great extent and is gradually coming to an end with people only lightly stroking themselves. In present times, this flagellation is performed in the symbolic sense, and not in the literal manner in which it used to happen earlier.
How can friends of Muslims wish them and help them commemorate the occasion? Maulana suggests, The greeting that Muslims friends can use is: Good Muharram! This is because Muharram is not only a tragedy, but also was martyrdom. Muslims and their friends can commemorate the event by reminding one another that Husayn made a great sacrifice in the seventh century, but now we are living in a different age and there is no need for making such sacrifice. The age of oppression is over. From this perspective, people can wish each other: Happy Muharram!
A young Muslim recalls marking the month of Muharram at his family home with acts of charity, hosting an open house that offers food to people of all faiths. We put up sharbat stalls, contribute to madarsas and people in the area know that anybody can walk in for a meal during this period, he says.
So, remember to hold your horses on Good Friday, since the joys of Easter will come around soon enough! And whatever our faiths, a little introspection never hurt anybody.
(The writer is an editorial consultant and co-founder of The Goodwill Project. She tweets @anuvee). Views expressed are personal.
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Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/its-good-friday-but-not-a-happy-one-4612802/
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