The Vicious Circle Does Not Stop by a Calendar Capt Mohamed Hassan Al-Tahir
The war in Sudan began as a mere armed conflict, but as it enters its third year, it has become an open wound in the body of the Sudanese nation—bleeding the lives of innocents and threatening both the present and the future of the country.
War does not stop by a calendar:
Since its outbreak, it has turned into a closed circle of violence and destruction, seemingly unable to find a path toward peace. Here arises a fundamental question:
– Is a difference of nine days—the gap between the Hijri and Gregorian calendars—enough to close the vicious circle of war?
The time difference between the two calendars reflects a symbolic divergence, but it is not enough on its own to stop the bloodshed. War does not end by a calendar; it ends with sincere will and a living conscience that places the people’s interest above narrow gains.
Ramadan is a great month, a month of fasting and prayer, but it is not one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Qur’an: Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. Yet Ramadan holds a special sanctity—it is the month of the Qur’an, mercy, and forgiveness, when devils are chained and the gates of Paradise are opened. If the warring parties were to draw inspiration from the spirit of Ramadan, it could be a great opportunity to stop fighting, examine their consciences, and seek peaceful solutions that preserve lives and restore Sudan’s stability (but who will convince the rooster?).
Thus, the question remains:
– Is there a will to find a solution?
– Is there a conscience to stop the bleeding of blood?
From this, we conclude that political will alone is not enough unless accompanied by a living human conscience. War is not resolved by weapons, but by reforming the soul, sitting at the table of dialogue, and recognizing the other’s right to life and dignity. When souls are noble, they rise above trivialities, for in the heart of the generous, small matters become insignificant.
Conscience is what distinguishes humans from others. When conscience is absent, war becomes a blind machine that knows nothing but destruction. It becomes like the village that once received its sustenance in abundance, but denied God’s blessings, so He made it taste hunger and fear. Have we returned to the path of gratitude for God’s blessings? “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you; but if you deny, My punishment is severe.” Do not make your war against God.
All life is made of God’s days, and all blessings are His gifts. In war, people forget these truths, neglecting that:
– Every day is a new opportunity for peace.
– Every blessing is a reminder of God’s grace.
When one reflects on God’s gifts—from the blessing of security to the blessing of health—one realizes that war is nothing but a denial and waste of these blessings. Here echoes the noble verse:
– “So which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?”
It is as if the question is directed to all who insist on continuing war, ignoring God’s blessings that demand gratitude, not denial.
Conclusion:
Sudan’s war is not an inevitable fate, but the result of human choices that can change. The difference between the Hijri and Gregorian years reminds us that time passes, but blood does not stop except by a conscious decision. Ramadan is not one of the sacred months, but it can be a turning point toward peace—by elevating the spirit and lowering the demands of the body. “No vessel has man filled worse than his stomach; when the stomach is light, the mind grows weighty.”
To fill the stomach is to empty the brain.
Ramadan teaches us that will and conscience are the keys in the world of testimony leading to absolute and lasting good. God’s days and His blessings are a constant reminder that life is a gift worth preserving by reviving conscience. War devours souls, destroys nations, humiliates humanity, spills blood, and disgraces the dignity of Sudan’s people.
Now the time has come to preserve Sudan’s dignity, O people of Sudan.