I am not a fan of English nasheeds, either. :)

I have no idea who was on the programme, or who was responsible for the guest list… Everyone has a different definition of ‘Muslim’ and ‘unity’, and if different Muslim sects celebrate Eid as well, I wonder why they should be excluded per se? Especially as non-Muslims were not (for example, they displayed video speeches from the leadership of the main political parties).

This was not billed as an Islamic event – more like a community event, and as such, I did not expect speeches on Islam, or the prohibition of music. I went mainly out of a sense of curiosity, and to witness the good of Muslims coming together. Perfect we are certainly not, therefore such events will fail to be so too.

The least we can do is praise the good, when complaining about the bad, else we just come across as typical whiny Muslims, who never have anything nice to say about anything.

In that respect, anyone who intends to comment on the negative, from now onwards must also comment on the positive, or remain silent. :)

I have to say, I stayed for 20 minutes wishing I could turn my hearing off temporarily to shut the bad poetry out. That is, in fact, my usual reaction to English-language nasheeds.

And what were the Isma’ilis doing on the programme? I thought Eid was a Muslim event.