“Resist the forces that divide and weaken us” – Pres Ali

…underscores need for peace & unity in Youman Nabi message

President Dr Irfaan Ali is urging Guyanese to reject division and embrace unity, using his Youman Nabi message to underscore the importance of peace and solidarity in building a stronger, more cohesive nation.
Drawing on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the President called for renewed commitment to values that bring people together rather than tear them apart.
“Youman Nabi is a time of reflection, reverence, and renewal. This sacred day invites us to look within ourselves,” President Ali expressed, adding that it is also an occasion to draw guidance from the life of the Prophet (PBUH).
“The Prophet’s life remains a perpetual light to the world. His teachings instruct us that true greatness lies not in wealth or power, but in mercy, unity, and service to others,” President Ali explained.
In quoting the Prophet (PBUH), who said, “Do not envy one another, do not inflate prices one to another, do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another, but be servants of Allah as brothers,” President Ali emphasised that these words reinforce that “we must live in peace and unity, one in which societies are bound together regardless of differences in faith, ethnicity or culture.”
According to the President, these words also echo across centuries to the present moment, calling on all to resist the temptations of division and hate.
“Instead, we are urged to live as brothers and sisters,” he noted.
“In our multi-religious and multi-ethnic Guyana, this guidance carries profound meaning. If we are to build a just, harmonious, and prosperous society, we must resist the forces that divide and weaken us. We must strive to put things into perspective to avoid any act that seeks to undercut the unity of our people,” the President added.
The President’s message comes just days after Guyanese went to the polls to vote in the country’s General and Regional Elections. Though the polls closed at 18:00h on Monday and declarations of results were already made across all ten voting districts by Wednesday, there is no official declaration of the winner – though the tabulation of the results shows that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has won and that President Ali has been re-elected to serve a second term.
A recount of some of the ballots cast is ongoing, at the request of a political party which is struggling to accept the results. That recount exercise could last until Sunday – delaying the swearing-in of the President and the installation of a new Government.
President Ali, meanwhile, reminded that one of the central messages of the Prophet (PBUH) was the need for unity.
“This call to unity remains as relevant today as it was more than 1400 years ago. For us in Guyana, it is a timely reminder that division weakens us, but unity that spans faiths, ethnicities, and communities strengthens the bonds that bind our people together,” President Ali said.
He further reminded that the Prophet (PBUH) also taught that peace among people is of greater value than ritual worship alone.
“In so doing, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) reminds us that the rituals of religion, while vital, are incomplete if they are not accompanied by the work of forgiveness, mending relationships, and providing a framework for the peaceful existence of all people. At a time when our societies can be shaken by envy, division, and mistrust, the words of the Prophet offer timeless guidance,” President Ali said.
In this regard, he urged that as Guyanese – particularly the Muslim community – commemorate Youman Nabi, “let us remember that we honour the Holy Prophet not only with our words, but with our deeds.”
“The true test of our devotion is seen in the way we treat each other, including the most vulnerable and the forgotten. It is about how we show empathy and love. These are the things the world needs today,” the President noted.