VOA标准英语2011--Muslims in London Think of Trouble Spots

Muslims in London Think of Trouble Spots at Eid Prayers

Muslims from around the world marked the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan Tuesday, with many in Londay saying the holiday has special meaning this year because of the Arab Spring revolutions and the East Africa famine¹.
At London's Central Mosque², people rushed to prayers all morning long, joining fellow Muslims from dozens of countries.
For some, the religious significance of Eid al-Fitr is so important, world events have no impact³. "Freedom fighters in the Middle East have nothing to do with the Eid. Eid is between you and God,” said a man.
“Eid is the same every year for us regardless what’s happening socially and around the world. It’s a celebration of the month of fasting. And that’s our religion," said another man.
But many others have a different view, including this 12-year-old boy, whose family is from Morocco.
“It makes it special because you feel how people are feeling right now in other countries like for example Somalia, they’re suffering, no food, no water, so it’s a good thing to know how people are suffering around the world,” he said.
And many of the thousands of adults at the mosque agree with him.
"We just think about third world countries, we think about what’s happening in Libya and Syria and what’s happening in Somalia, as well. We just think about what we have here and we just should be grateful," said a man.
"This has been more emotional⁴ because you’ve got a lot of war going on in the Middle East,” said another man.
But that doesn’t mean the Eid was politicized, according to Baher Moulana of Sri Lanka, who came to the mosque with his family.
“Politics stops here at the gate, really," said Moulana. "In there, there’s not anything mentioned about politics. It’s mainly praying for those people who passed away and who are fighting for the good cause.”
The ‘fights’ on many people’s minds started in Tunisia, home country of Lassad el-Wadrafi, a London chauffeur⁵.
“They feel more responsible for the people back home because they didn’t participate in the change for the better. People die over there for the Jihad. They feel responsible for them to do at least a little bit to contribute to what has been done in Tunisia, my country,” said the chauffeur.
After prayers, many people took a stroll⁶ in Regent’s Park, just behind the mosque, taking family photos and having picnics. These women are from Yemen, the scene of significant⁷ unrest in recent months. Fatma volunteered to speak for the group.
“We are affected⁸ in terms of what we are thinking," said a woman. "We have to pray for them to be safe. We have to make sure that we are praying hard that, inshallah, everything will be sorted soon so they can have stable life, no more trouble and people can be free and move wherever they want, you know.”
Those thoughts reflected the prayers of many worshippers this Eid morning in the peaceful surroundings⁹ of London’s Central Mosque.

1 famine   

n.饥荒；严重的缺乏

参考例句：

• We're collecting for the famine victims.我们正在为遭受饥荒的灾民募款。
• Famine stared us in the face.饥荒迫在眉睫。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

4 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。

5 chauffeur   

n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车

参考例句：

• The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
• She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。

6 stroll   

n.闲逛，漫步；v.闲逛，漫步

参考例句：

• We are ready to take a stroll in the village.我们准备到村里遛遛。
• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。

7 significant   

adj.相当数量的；意义重大的；意味深长的

参考例句：

• Your success today may be significant for your whole future.你今天的成功对你的整个未来可能是重要的。
• She cast him a significant smile.她向他投去意味深长的一笑。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 surroundings   

n.周围的事物(或情况)，环境

参考例句：

• She is not very well tuned into her surroundings. 她不太适应周围的环境。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。