Eid-ul-Fitr is a unique festival. It has no connection with any historical event nor is it related to the change of seasons or cycles of agriculture. It is not a festival related in any way to worldly affairs. Its significance is purely spiritual. It is the day when the Muslims thank Allah for having given them the will, strength and endurance to observe fasting and obey His instructions during the holy month of Ramadan.
This day, in the Muslim world, brings rejoicing and happiness. The rejoicing is not, however, at the departure of the month of Ramadan; it is the happiness which people feel after successfully completing an important task. Muslim religious leaders of the early days of Islam always felt profound sorrow when the month of Ramadan came to an end, as they felt that they were being deprived of the spiritual blessings which were associated with the month of fasting.
The Eid as a religious festival encourages Muslims to forgive and forget all differences or hostilities. While food is important on the Eid day, there are also religious obligations connected to the festival which see Muslims give thanks to Allah for giving them the strength - or taqat - to get through the month of Ramadan. In addition to forgiveness, self-reflection and peaceful contemplation, Muslims are also required to give to charity by way of Fitrana - an obligatory duty which is to be paid prior to the Eid day.
Eid-ul-Fitr can be interpreted as a three-fold blessing. First, it provides one more occasion for the Muslims to thank God and remember His blessings. Secondly, it affords an opportunity of spiritual stock-taking, after the month of Ramadan. A Muslim can now ponder over the strength (or weakness) of his will power; he can see, in the mirror of Ramadan, what were the strong or weak points of his character, because under the stress of fasting, the hidden qualities (or evils) of human character come to surface in such clear way which is, perhaps, not possible otherwise. Thirdly, it enjoins the well-to-do persons to share a portion of what they have with their poor brethren. On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, a Muslim is obliged to give to the needy foodstuff at the rate of a prescribed weight, on behalf of himself and of every member of his family, including servants and guests who were sheltered under his roof on that night.
Incidentally, here the difference between religious and materialistic outlooks becomes poignant. Religion exhorts a person to give, at his own free will, a share of his wealth to those who are less fortunate. Materialism teaches him to amass fortune as much as he can without regard to the moral or ethical questions.
The Eid day starts early in the morning when Muslims gather at mosques, plazas or outdoor squares to perform prayers. Immediately after, they wish each other a peaceful and prosperous Eid Mubarak. Following the morning prayer and breakfast, they take the first daylight meal in a month with their friends and family. Presents are often exchanged, and people who can afford decorate their homes too.
It's also about remembering the loved ones who passed away. Muslims traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones on Eid day after they have been to prayers. Families visit the graves of their family members, clean the grave site and offer D'uaa - or prayer - to Allah for forgiveness and also pray that their loved-ones' souls find peace. According to scholars, Muslims visit family graves on Eid day to honour the practice followed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who used to visit his mother's grave where he would fall into tears praying for Allah's forgiveness for her sins.
The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad with his friends and relatives after the victory of the battle of Badar.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the lunar Islamic calendar. This is because it is believed that the Koran was first revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the ninth month of Ramadan in 610 CE. During this month, Muslims focus on personal reflection and prayer. They do this by observing three types of worship: charity, praying and fasting from dawn to sunset. Muslims also abstain from sex, smoking, and make a conscious effort to avoid speaking ill of others. These acts are intended to make worshippers focus on discipline and to remember those who are less fortunate.
It is not possible to identify the date of Eid-ul-Fitr according to the Gregorian calendar accurately. This is because the month of Shawwal begins and the month of Ramadan ends, after a confirmed sighting of the new moon, either in Saudi Arabia or locally. The new moon may be sighted earlier or later in specific locations. Hence, many Muslims in different communities, for example on the east and west coasts of the USA and Canada, may celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on different dates.
A sense of generosity and gratitude colours the Eid-ul-Fitr festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mankind.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, retired Secretary and former
Chairman, NBR.
mazid1273@hotmail.com
Eid-ul-Fitr: A festival with a difference
Muhammad Abdul Mazid | Published: July 05, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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