Extend muhibbah spirit to all areas of life

The array of food sold at Ramadan bazaars attracts Malaysians of all races who are willing to brave traffic to get their favourite delicacies. — Filepic

I LOVE going to Ramadan bazaars.

As a Muslim, my enjoyment of these food bazaars may not come as a surprise, but it reflects a universal appreciation for community and culture.

If you have been to a Ramadan bazaar, you would see Malaysians of all ethnic groups there.

Non-Muslims, much like their Malay counterparts, seem equally captivated by the allure of Ramadan bazaars and the myriad delicacies available.

I was at the bazaar in Precinct 3, Putrajaya, with my mother, when she pointed to several groups of non-Malays buying food.

Amused, she said it was heartwarming to see people of various races mingling and socialising.

There, I came across two women, one Chinese and one Indian, who were chatting animatedly about the murtabak they bought at two different stalls.

Seemingly happy with their purchase, one of the women proceeded to queue at an apam balik stall, while the other went looking for nasi kerabu.

My mother joked that the women had developed “lidah Melayu” (tongue of Malays), meaning they had acquired a taste for Malay food.

The traders, all Malays, happily served customers regardless of their ethnicity.

And their non-Malay customers were equally glad to part with their money in exchange for some mouthwatering delights.

When it comes to food, it is the taste and quality, not the traders or buyers’ skin colour that we care about.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, some non-Muslims even tried fasting, so they could experience the joy of breaking the fast with their Malay friends.

Sadly, the muhibbah spirit of harmony and camaraderie seen at Ramadan bazaars does not seem to extend to other aspects of public life.

The recent controversies dominating news headlines seem to indicate that race relations in our country are in a poor state.

On social media, hateful and vitriolic posts and comments dominate.

The fasting month was unfortunately marred by inflammatory messages seeking to divide rather than unite.

The negativity has even penetrated my social circle and I have met individuals who hold questionable views about people of different races.

Mind you, these are ordinary folk who have probably been exposed to much inflammatory content on social media.

They share a common trait, in that they rarely interact with other races either at work, school or in their housing areas.

That is perhaps why they are susceptible to negative stories about groups of people they rarely meet and whose lives they know little about.

Some people also support calls to boycott products and services purportedly offered by other races, seemingly oblivious to the fact that many economic sectors are interrelated and that the hit on one might cause ripples that affect others.

But the mixed crowds at Ramadan bazaars are proof that we are not as different as some quarters have us believe.

Despite our differences, we still love and eat the same types of food.

And in true Malaysian fashion, we braved the evening traffic and heat, jostling at the bazaars for these foods.

Now that Ramadan has ended and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations have begun, we have a fresh opportunity to bridge gaps and strengthen our unity.

During this festive period, social events commonly bring together people from across the racial divide.

It is an opportunity to close ranks, put the past behind us and move forward as one people.

Hari Raya is, after all, about letting go of past hurts and extending forgiveness – so let us all come together and do just that.