30 June 2016 By Dr. Abdul Ruff
Colachal Eid al-Fitr is a joyous day
for Muslims all over the world after Ramadan month long rigorous fasting from
dawn to dusk. Among Muslim festivals, Eid-ul-Fitr, the 'fast-breaking'
festival stands out in its popularity and religious significance. Eid-ul-Fitr
is a celebratory day that generates the deep devotion and surrender to Allah
during Ramadan. It refers to the breaking of the month-long routine of fasting
from sunrise to sunset. 'Eid' itself implies a 'festive' occasion that spreads
joy and happiness all around. Regarded as one of the
Five Pillars of Islam, Ramadan is the period when Muslims fast every day from
sunrise to sunset. They refrain from consuming food, drink and engaging in
sexual relations. It also includes the increased offering of prayers and
recitation of the Quran. Generally, Eid is a three-day
long celebration that reaffirms the ideals of piety, empathy, charity and
solidarity among Muslims all over the world. It is celebrated with tremendous
enthusiasm and affection. On this fortunate day of
Eid-ul-Fitr festival, morning prayers are followed by a sermon and a
congregational prayer at the mosque. On the first morning of the celebration,
many gather in local mosques or open-air locations for special prayers called
Salat al-Eid, and have breakfast. Muslims put on their
finest clothes for what will be their first daylight meal in a month. Some
will exchange gifts, greeting cards and prepare special foods. Men typically
wear white clothes that stand for purity while women and children are attired
in especially tailored, bright-colored clothes. Muslims offer Eid prayer 'Two
Rakat Namaz' on this day. Then, dressed in new clothes they proceed to greet
their family, relatives and friends 'Eid Mubarak'. This is done through
friendly embraces and handshakes, as good gestures of unity.
The Islamic practice of giving 'zakat' is also upheld during
this time. The ritual of distributing alms on this day is observed throughout
the ongoing celebrations. Just before Eid, Muslims part with some portion of
their earnings and grains for the poor, so that they too can celebrate Eid
with full fervor. Children also receive gifts or money by relatives.
Muslim families host gatherings of and relatives, friends and
neighbors and serve them sumptuous meals. The festive meals comprise a lavish
spread of tasty and most favored dishes along with the popular milk-based
sweet preparation called 'seviyan'. The spirit of Eid transcends community and
religious barriers, and the sight of even non-Muslims partaking of Eid
celebrations is a common one. In fact,
holy Quran, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are interrelated with holy Quran playing
the binding force to connect Muslims with them. Eid
al-Fitr is one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar, although its
significance is purely spiritual. Literally translated from Arabic as the
'festival of breaking the fast', the religious holiday tends to last for a
number of days. The celebrations involve a range of traditions, generally
including the gathering of family and friends to eat and pray together.
The festival has no connection with any historical event but is
a day where Muslims thank Allah for the strength, the will and the endurance
he gives them, especially during Ramadan. The Islamic
month begins on June 6 and will run through to July 5. During this time
healthy, adult Muslims are expected not to eat or drink during daylight hours.
At the end of the month there is a feast known as Eid al-Fitr.
The Holy Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad (SAS)
during Ramadan and that observing the fast is a time to reflect spiritually.
The importance of Eid-ul-Fitr is associated with an actual event in the
history of Islam. Allah sent an angel to reveal his words over a period of 23
years. These teachings formed the Holy Quran. Muslim astronomy site Crescentwatch
urged everyone to look for the new crescent moon (known in Islam as hilal).
But it said forecasts indicated that on July 4, a naked-eye sighting of the
new crescent moon would be ''extremely improbable in all global regions,
except in the remote South Pacific where sightings are possible but also
highly unlikely.'' This would then mean Eid would be
taken as July 6. On the auspicious day of Eid al-Fitr
none shall fast. Muslims would be happy to welcome a new life gifted by the
Ramadan fasting era.
Eid el-Fitr should be distinguished from Eid al-Adha, which is
considered the holiest of the two main Muslim festivals. It's also said at Eid
al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice. That particular festival takes place in
Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar.
Taking place this year on 11 September, it marks the
willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to Allah's
command, before Allah intervened through his angel Jibra'il and informed him
the sacrifice had already been accepted.
For Muslims around the world, it will very soon be the end of
Ramadan month and the start of Shawwal. Shawwal begins with a feast to
celebrate the end of that fasting. This celebration is called Eid al-Fitr and
is commonly known just as Eid, even though there are other festivals with Eid
in their name. Like in Pakistan and Bangladesh, great importance
is attached to Eid-ul-Fitr in India, as it is an important public holiday as
there exists a considerably large population of the Muslim minority (second
largest population after Hindus), which adds to the cultural demographics of
India. All schools, colleges and public institutions remain closed to mark the
significance of this day. With time, these traditions have strengthened their
interaction and intermingling with the Indian culture. Eid-ul-Fitr has, thus,
seeped into India's cultural milieu and is looked forward to by everyone.
Eid al-Fitr stands for joy and greetings. Eid al-Fitr reflects
happy mood of global Muslims having fulfilled one of the fundamental pillars
of Islam in the service to Allah, the almighty. God's full satisfaction is the
motto of Muslims fasting for a month- a significant achievement of Islam.
Muslims, for whom Eid is the most important festival to
celebrate even while facing anti-Islamic attacks on them by the enemies of
Islam, seek Allah's blessings and guidance during and after the Ramadan and
always. Eid al-Fitr as a very joyous day for Muslims
should be the beginning of our lives as the fasting would strengthen our minds
to continue with what we have achieved though fasting. Muslims would not
revert back to old way of life after the Ramadan fasting and Eid al-Fitr Comments 💬 التعليقات |
Add Comments