Can you feel it in the air? It’s almost mystical … what is it? The island is bustling with an energy that can only be brought on by … Cup Match!

Cup Match is a time when we put aside our differences and celebrate our commonalities.

Cup Match isn’t all about cricket albeit it is the nucleus. Cup Match is so much more – it’s picnics, camping, hosting relatives and friends from home and abroad; the list goes on but one thing is for sure, unity in the community is the theme.

Cup Match is very meaningful to me as the story goes my grandmother was visiting Bermuda from St Kitts & Nevis on her way to New York when her cousin invited her to Cup Match. So they trotted down to St George’s. This was in the 1930s. As fate would have it, my grandmother met my grandfather, Herman Minors and the rest is history or, what I like to call “their story”.

During those days, one dressed to the nines going to the match, so my grandmother had on her white pleated skirt and gloves! She was looking good for sure and Edith sure did catch Herman’s eye. They were married and lived happily ever after.

It's so important to celebrate our national events with each other. It fosters comradeship, unity, understanding; builds culture, heritage and pride. In Islam celebrating is a form of thanking Allah, the one true God. Muslims celebrate by visiting and meeting friends and relatives and having clean fun, with plenty of prayers and well wishes for each other.

We also celebrate Emancipation Day in remembrance of the abolition of slavery in Bermuda. I urge you to check out www.emancipationbermuda.com, you’ll find interesting facts on slavery and emancipation in Bermuda.

Slavery is indeed the epitome of oppression. In the Koran, Allah expresses His disdain: “Allah does not love the oppressors.” (3:140)

How befitting that we should also be celebrating Mary Prince Day during this time. Kudos to those who forged through to make it possible that Bermuda should commemorate Mary Prince, a Bermudian slave and author who experienced slavery in the Caribbean as well as in Britain.

Mary Prince’s autobiography, The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave, is a must read. The book gives a stunning account of her life as a slave. It could only be beneficial to read her story and I urge you to do so. Make it a part of your book club.

We should whisper this duaa (prayer) for relief from oppression:

O Allah, alleviate the suffering of the oppressed and grant them justice.

O Allah, restrain and repel the oppressors and protect the weak.

O Allah, end oppression and establish peace and justice in the world.

Bermuda have a safe and happy Cup Match and may your team win!

As salaam alaikum (Peace be unto you)

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam