Eid al-Fitr, Muslim Unity, and the Global Solidarity Struggle Against Oppression

Eid al-Fitr: A Call for Muslim Unity and Global Solidarity

Photo Credit: Mr. Sourav Karmakar

Eid al-Fitr is meant to be a day of joy, celebration, and gratitude after a month of fasting. But for many of us—especially those of us who are new to Islam, living in the West, or struggling to reconcile faith with the realities of the modern world—this Eid comes with a deep sense of urgency. How can we celebrate while our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Sudan, the DR Congo, Myanmar, and China face genocide, war, and oppression? How do we find peace while the global ruling class profits from our suffering?

As a revert, I have learned firsthand that Islam is not just about personal spirituality—it is a system of justice, a framework for liberation, and a call to action. But too often, we as Muslims remain divided by sect, school of thought, or cultural background. This Eid, I’m calling on all Muslims—Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Salafi, Deobandi, Barelvi, Black, Arab, South Asian, White, Latino, working-class, poor—to break out of these artificial barriers and recognize the real fight ahead: the fight against empire, capitalism, and oppression. And for those outside of Islam, particularly my comrades in class struggle, it’s time to understand that our struggle is deeply connected to the liberation Islam calls for.

Beyond Madhabs, Beyond Sects: The Need for Muslim Unity

The divisions within the Muslim world are not organic; they have been reinforced and weaponized by colonialism and imperialism. From the British exploitation of sectarian divides in India to the U.S. and its Gulf allies fueling Sunni-Shia tensions in the Middle East, these divisions serve only one purpose: to keep us weak and distracted while our lands are plundered, our people are killed, and our resources are stolen.

We must stop playing into this.

We, as Muslims, should not be debating minor theological differences while our ummah is bleeding. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us about nationalism and division, reminding us that we are one body—when one part suffers, the whole body feels it. Yet, today, some Muslims refuse to pray alongside others because of minor doctrinal differences, while the bombs raining down on Gaza, the ethnic cleansing in Sudan, and the massacres in the DR Congo do not distinguish between Sunni and Shia, Arab or African.

It is time to unite not just in words, but in action.

Class Struggle, Imperialism, and Muslim Liberation

Islam is inherently anti-oppression. The Qur’an speaks repeatedly about standing against tyranny, defending the oppressed, and redistributing wealth. Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an institutionalized form of wealth redistribution—a radical economic practice that predates and aligns with the principles of socialism.

Yet, today, many Muslim-majority nations are ruled by corrupt elites who hoard wealth while the masses struggle. Billionaire sheikhs sip gold-plated coffee while millions of Muslims cannot afford basic necessities. These rulers are not our leaders; they are part of the global capitalist class that exploits both Muslim and non-Muslim workers alike.

This is why our struggle must be global. The same corporations profiting from weapons sold to Israel are also exploiting workers in factories from Bangladesh to Mexico. The same powers destabilizing Africa and funding genocide in Sudan are the ones extracting lithium, oil, and gold from the Global South. And the same politicians who claim to support “democracy” are backing repressive regimes in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.

To my Muslim brothers and sisters: we must embrace class consciousness and understand that our liberation is tied to the liberation of all oppressed people. To my comrades in the fight against capitalism: you cannot talk about class struggle without addressing Islamophobia, imperialism, and the ongoing colonization of Muslim lands.

The Way Forward: Organizing for Justice

So what does this mean for us, today, on Eid?

1. Build real solidarity between Muslims across sects, races, and classes. Whether in mosques, community centers, or online spaces, we must create a culture where no Muslim is excluded based on their background. We must organize as a united ummah.

2. Bridge the gap between Muslims and leftist movements. Too often, Muslims are wary of the left due to historical Islamophobia, and leftists dismiss Islam as a “conservative” religion. We must break down these misconceptions and recognize that the enemy of both is the same: capitalism and imperialism.

3. Hold our so-called leaders accountable. Muslim-majority governments that are complicit in genocide, oppression, and class exploitation must be exposed and resisted. No more silence on Gulf states funding Israeli apartheid. No more quiet acceptance of military dictatorships crushing dissent.

4. Support movements for Palestinian liberation, African self-determination, and working-class Muslim struggles. Boycotts, protests, direct aid, and political education—whatever your role is, do something.

This Eid, as we gather with our families and communities, let’s remember that our celebration is incomplete without a commitment to justice. If we truly believe in the oneness of God, then we must also believe in the oneness of struggle.

Eid Mubarak. But more than that—may this Eid be a turning point

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