One of the greatest religious festivals mankind has ever known and certainly the greatest for the Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr makes a powerful statement for human civilisation. The festival is a culmination of a thorough test of man's earthly existence, to which the followers of the faith put themselves every year so that they are blessed by the Almighty Allah. A month-long renunciation of physical comfort and pleasure as ordained by the holy scripture on all -irrespective of their social status, is meant for appreciation of the divine gifts that have kept all creatures including human beings alive. The purpose is to express gratitude to the omniscient 'One and Only' for His infinite mercy He has bestowed on the best of all His creations. The month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for man to renew the bond between the creator and the created. It is so poignant with love and mercy that the followers discover not only their obligation to Allah but also to all human beings.
Unfortunately, the rituals prior to the festival proper -as it happens in most religions -often take over the abiding spirit of fasting and prayer. Modesty and humility give in to flaunting of wealth, courtesy of brazen consumerism. God's command that one's pleasure and boisterous self-indulgence must not be the cause of others' sorrow or pain falls on deaf ears. It is a time for fostering universal fraternity of all peoples but sadly flagrant violation of codes of conduct at all levels -from individual to national and international -has almost become the order of the day. To get an idea of how this happens within a society, a casual look at the contrasting life-styles of different segments should be enough. On the international front, it was painful to observe the plight of the Palestinians under brutal attack by the Israelis in the month of fasting. Now they are groaning when they should have celebrated this great occasion. What if followers of any other religion were so attacked during observance of one of their most important religious ceremonies! The religion of peace also makes it incumbent on its followers to defend the rights of fellow brothers and sisters when so nakedly attacked.
At home fear also looms large of political restiveness after the Eid. But this should have been an occasion when individuals, groups and parties buried their petty differences and narrow interests in order to march forward for greater national unity and progress. The spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr too has been abused for parochial purposes. Why not make the most of the universal fraternity in order to stay focused towards a common goal -one that will bring this nation honour and respect in the days to come. There is also something secular about this religious festival in that it does not exclude anyone in sharing the warmth of heart through the usual custom of embracing. So the bonding between man and the Almighty Allah, of necessity, can be transposed in case of human relations for their collective reunion and welfare. He also takes pleasure in such reciprocity between and among human beings. If this happens, observance of Eid-ul-Fitr transcends from the earthly to the divine.
Celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr
FE Team | Published: July 28, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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