Have you ever tried to speak to a criminal, drug addict or a murderer and reason with them without using the word of the holy books?
I have tried to and usually one ends up explaining one’s self over and over but in the end, when faith is introduced into the conversation, most of the time at least, then that is the only time you have some kind of breakthrough.
It’s also usually the point where you reach a conclusion of whether you are wasting your time or not.
Our country at the moment is in a criminal state with all the corruption, looting and taxi violence taking place.
I see the president coming out to speak and the problem that I find in his speeches nowadays is that he is using reasoning and logic to explain his disgust and disappointment with the wrongdoers, and not simply saying that God will punish them in the hereafter for stealing or taking someone else’s life.
I know the speech writers are coming from a logical, educated place but where we find ourselves now, I feel we need to start adding spiritual aspects because South Africa is a nation of worshippers.
One only has to look at the number of mosques and churches and temples to know that people take their religion seriously.
Yes, we all belong to different religions but we all believe in the same basic concepts, that if you live right, you go to heaven, and if you do wrong and don’t repent, you go the other way.
Sometimes it takes a simple explanation like this for someone to realise their wrongs.
We do not all have the same levels of education in life but I believe the majority of got the same kind of spiritual education, whether in school, at home or in the church.
The pandemic has also negatively impacted the faith-based sector.
These are highly learned people who we respect and trust with our souls.
I am sure the government by now can trust that the religious communities are able to manage their gatherings with proper Coronavirus protocols.
The churches are still closed and this week, on one of the most important days on the Muslim calendar when we celebrated Eid ul-Adha, the mosques were closed as well.
Although we are blessed to see another Eid in the heart of the pandemic, when so many others have passed on, it is sad that our government does not trust us enough to allow us to gather for this special day, as is happening in other countries.
As I have said before, we are no longer at the start of the pandemic and our religious leaders have enough respect for human life to know how to protect their followers from getting and spreading the virus, on whichever alert level we find ourselves on.
As a country, we are sorely in need of these faith-based gatherings because many people have lost sight of what is right and what is wrong, and many no longer have a pastor to listen to on Sunday morning or an imam to listen to on a Friday afternoon for jumuah.
Instead we are being led and guided by the propaganda fed to us by politicians who have their own agendas.
I think it’s time we show the faith leaders the type of respect they deserve because they have played their part by showing patience throughout the pandemic, although they know that they might have been able to be more impactful if they were allowed.
So this labarang I ask of you Mr President to consider allowing more people to gather if it is a faith-based gathering, not because I missed my Eid salaah but because South Africa is in a state of emergency and in desperate need of spiritual upliftment.
With that said, a big slamat for the labarang and I trust you had a blessed Eid inshallah.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za