#BTColumn – We must stand side by side to thrive

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Suleiman Bulbulia

This year for the 54th anniversary of Barbados Independence, I was given the honor and opportunity to deliver the main address/sermon at the National Independence Service of Thanksgiving. I now share that address here:

I greet you with the traditional greeting of the Prophets of God that has resonated through the ages, a greeting that Jesus, the Messiah, said to his disciples (blessings be on them).

Assalaamu Alykum – Shalom – “Peace be upon you all”.

We are gathered today at this national service of thanksgiving for our 54th Anniversary of Independence under the theme Standing Together, Renewing Hope.

If the last year has taught us one important lesson, it is this: even though we have to social distance, if we refuse to stand as a people united, our nation will not prosper. And although we have to wear masks, if we fail to face the future with courage, determination, faith and renewed hope, this global pandemic would have defeated us.

It was in the 7th Century in the dry, arid, desert region of the Arabian-peninsula that the youngest of the Abrahamic faiths was taking shape. During that time the early followers of this faith of Islam were mercilessly persecuted and humiliated, very similar to the fate of the early Christians at the hands of the Romans.

Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace, instructed a group of his closest followers to go and seek refuge in Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia). There, he said, you will find a ruler who is fair and does not tolerate injustice, a devout Christian King who will grant you safety and security. And so it happened that some 70 to 80 Muslim men and women sought refuge in an African Kingdom under the leadership of a Christian ruler. This ruler was true to his reputation, and he gave them refuge.

As their oppressors discovered this, they sent envoys to convince the Ruler to send them back. These envoys used all forms of persuasion, including bribery and religious differences to convince the King. The King in response granted the refugees an audience and heard their plight. The eloquence of their youthful leader moved the King. This young man spoke of their change as a result of faith, from being a barbaric people to becoming a people of honour, truthfulness and character. And he spoke to the noble position of Jesus, the son of Mary, in the Islamic faith. The King wept upon hearing this speech and was even more convinced to give them refuge and said not even for a mountain of gold will I allow anyone to harm you. They lived in that land for over a decade as a minority religious community freely practicing their faith.

Brothers and sisters, our shared historical realities are much closer than we think, and more interwoven than we know.

When our African ancestors were herded into ships at Africa’s west coast by human traffickers, they were not separated into tribes and nations. Men, women and children of varying backgrounds, religious and cultural identities were stuffed into the bellies of slave ships, chained together as one inhuman cargo. It is estimated that over 20 per cent of the enslaved brought to the Americas and the Caribbean were Muslim.

Our history is one of common experiences, hardship and triumphs.

I am the son of an immigrant. My father arrived at the Careenage in Bridgetown in December 1953 on a ship after travelling for several weeks from Gujarat, India. He arrived as an orphan, with all that he possessed in one metal suitcase. Like other Indian immigrants before him, as documented by my very good friend and author Sabir Nakhuda, he set out on foot moving around the impoverished villages of the countryside engaging in itinerant trade.

When he had made a small profit, he bought a bicycle and then a motorcycle and eventually a car. He married my mother, the daughter of an Indian immigrant in union with my grandmother, a lady from Shorey Village in St. Andrew of African and Scottish ancestry. They often spoke to us of a Barbados they love where life was a struggle. My father remembers going into homes with no running water, no electricity, and only pit toilets. But he also admired the pride and hardworking character of Barbadians, their strong desire and hope to do better for themselves and their future generations. The very same desires and hopes my father had when he trekked those gruelling miles across the countryside.

Their stories inspire their children and grandchildren and we are motivated to build on the foundations our fore-parents left for us.

My father turned 88 a few weeks ago. I had hoped he and my mother would have been here with us this morning, but we plan and God plans, and God is the best of planners. My father passed away on Friday while attending prayers at the Mosque and was buried in keeping with our Islamic traditions, yesterday. May God have mercy on his soul. I dedicate my address today to his memory.

May Almighty God bless all parents for the responsibility they have accepted in raising the future generations of our country.

Our success as a nation rests on the shoulders of our ancestors collectively. It is their sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears that give us our freedom and our hope. I make it a point to remind us all to visit in humble reverence the Newton enslaved burial ground, not too far from here, where men, women and children who were forcibly brought to this island as enslaved persons, are interred, and to pray for their souls and thank them for their courage and their struggle for freedom.

As people of faith, we recognize that humanity shares one common father and mother.

God reveals in the Quran that He created us with different colors, languages and made us into nations and tribes so that we may come to know each other… li ta ‘arafu… in Arabic… to be mutually supportive of each other by becoming deeply acquainted with each other. This acquaintance brings us together as one people and it shapes our humanity, our character and our commitment to civility. Standing together means that we know who we are standing shoulder to shoulder with. This goes well beyond tolerance to a place of deep appreciation.

Last year, just over 300 Barbadians, mainly young men and women of different faith traditions gathered in Bridgetown and walked from the mosque in Sobers Lane, to the Jewish Synagogue, then to the St. Michael’s Cathedral, and finally to Queens Park where we were greeted by members of the Rastafarian community. The late Ras Iral (Carl Talma), who we remember today as we give thanks, led us in a beautiful service.

That walk, the first of its kind in this country, exemplified the spirit of love and humanity among our faith communities. It signalled the continuation of a journey that brings us all together as one family. This is who we are.

To be continued in my next column.

Suleiman Bulbulia is a Justice of the Peace; Secretary of the Barbados Muslim Association; Muslim Chaplain at the U.W.I, Cave Hill Campus and Chair, Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition. Email: suleimanbulbulia@hotmail.com.