Rt Hon Prime Minister, Hon Margaret Wilson, Speaker of Parliament, Dr Ashraf Choudhary, Your Excellencies, Community Leaders, Friends and Fellow Muslim Brothers and Sisters, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am indeed delighted to be here with you to join in the Eid celebration. I extend my heartiest Eid Mubarak Greetings to my Muslim brethrens and to all others, a very good evening.

Since the inaugural Eid celebration last year, much has happened in New Zealand. There has also been extraordinary heightening of tensions around the world. The importance of breaking down barriers to social cohesion and countering racially or religiously motivated hate and bias has gained greater urgency. Racial and religious relations have come under greater spotlight. As a global phenomenon, these issues have directly or indirectly affected us all.

In New Zealand, however, all of us - Maoris, Pakehas, Asians, Muslims of all ethnicity, and others, are enjoying racial harmony and tranquillity. The New Zealand Government’s endeavour in laying strong foundations for religious and social harmony and continued emphasis on tolerance and respect for different cultures and religious beliefs, allows everyone of us to live together in peace and harmony and for the expression of differences without impinging on our laws and social norms.

The Federation has been privileged to work with the Government in its efforts to promote inter-faith unity and harmony in New Zealand. While we are proud of this partnership, I also wish to take this opportunity to convey that the Federation will continue to work with Government and Non-Governmental Organisations in enhancing our social cohesion and to uplift our community.

While adhering to our Islamic faith, the Kiwi Muslims are proud and determined to contribute towards the preservation of the multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual society of New Zealand. We have done this through living in harmony with our neighbours, with fellow workers in our work places and in our interaction with the wider New Zealand society. This is a testament that Kiwi Muslims take racial and religious harmony seriously.

It is appreciated that as a multiracial society, New Zealand will always be faced with challenges to maintain and enhance social cohesion. While the Government continues to work hard to address the issues, I have no doubt in my mind that we will rise to the occasion as we strive forward to create a bright future for all New Zealanders with national unity imbibed in us..

While the Muslim community is steadfast in its religion, let me also stress that true fellowship with Allah is not about retreating or becoming a recluse. On the contrary, true saintliness is about getting involved in the affairs of the world as a worker, a businessman, a scientist, a doctor, a social worker, a sportsman, a spouse, a son or a daughter. True spirituality and morality lie in our fulfilling such roles as well as religious duties.

In addition, the true spirit and essence of Islam is to believe and practice peace. While we should guard against any encouragement of fear, suspicion or hatred under the guise of religion, we must ensure that through our words and deeds, the message of peace and progress prevails.

FIANZ, as leading Muslim community organisation in New Zealand, will endeavour its very best to take the Muslim community forward that we aspire to be. Our aim is to develop a community that is religiously profound and socially progressive which will thrive in a multi-religious and multi-racial society so that we are able to integrate ourselves well and be a confident New Zealand Muslim community.

Finally, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadhan. It is celebrated as the culmination of a month of devotion, sacrifice and sharing with others in the hope that the month-long fasting (Ramadhan) has inscribed in our spirits, principles that will strengthen our efforts to the end. For Muslims, Eid is a joyful celebration of the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity.

To the Government of New Zealand - thank you for your continued support you have given to FIANZ. We are with you and the wider New Zealand community in building a strong nation that celebrates unity in diversity.

My best wishes to all of you for good health, peace, happiness, and prosperity.

Thank you.

Wasalaam

Javed Khan
President