Eid-ul-Fitr (Id al-Fitr) is linked with the Holy month of Ramadan. It
signifies the end of the month of fasting (the first day of the month
of Shawal). Eid-ul-Fitr is a unique festival. It has no connection
with any historical event nor is it related to the changes 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 God for having given them the will, the strength and the
endurance to observe fast and obey His commandment during the holy
month of Ramadan.
This day, in Muslim world, brings rejoicing and happiness. The
rejoicing is not, however, at the departure of the month of Ramadan;
it is the happiness which man feels after successfully completing an
important task.
It is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Eid-ul-Fitr (the
Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family
gather to pray in congregation.
The feast of Fitr is God’s reward for those who fast during the holy
month of Ramadan. In this month, man should try to add to his true
knowledge of God, do acts of charity for the needy, renew his beliefs
towards his Lord and this will be a real Bairam Feast (Turkish word
meaning festival) for him. The prayers of the day of Bairam a reason
of unity and solidarity of Muslims all over the world. On this day do
honor God for His endless and all-enhancing mercy.
The conception of Eid in Islam is not confined only to celebration
extravagance, luxurious feasts, friendly handshakes and embraces. The
Muslims should rather devote this day to the worship of God and should
beseech Him to approve their virtuous deeds and forgive their sins.
This is because the doors of God’s pardon are kept open this day and
His Blessings are bountiful.
Purpose & ideaology of Eid in Islam:-
Eid Al-Fitr is the most important festival in the Islamic calendar
(Muslim Holiday). The day does not mark any historical event or
episode; but its existence provides the Muslim for an occasion to
offer thanks to Allah for having given him the strength and the will
to observe fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
It is also an occasion for prayers when the Muslims gather in large
congregations, standing shoulder to shoulder, to demonstrate the
equality and equity which is the inherent feature of Islamic society
all over the world.
But the greatest significance of this day of rejoicing lies in the
fact that on this day every Muslim is enjoined to give the needy food
at the rate of the prescribed weight per every member of his
household, including servants and guests who were sheltered under his
roof the preceding evening.
Eid Al-Fitr then serves a three-fold purpose: It places upon every
Muslim the obligation to remember Allah and offer Him thanks; it
affords him an opportunity of spiritual stock-taking in that he can
now ponder over the strength of his will or the weakness of his
character, as the case may be, which manifested itself during the
preceding month (Ramadan); it also is the day for the haves to share a
portion of what they have with the have-nots.
And, for those persons who disobeyed this command of Allah this is the
day of an end to the month-long pangs of conscience, inner struggle
and continuous realization of the feebleness of their character. No
more will they have to argue, without much conviction, against
fasting. No more will they have to think up an excuse every morning
for not fasting. No more will they have to say “Oh, but fasting is
old-fashioned; it was not meant for the modern world.”
It is not my object here to explain the philosophy of fasting. Almost
everyone realizes the spiritual, social, scientific and medical
benefits which are derived from fasting. But so far as a Muslim, a
true believer, is concerned, it should be sufficient that fasting is
prescribed in the Holy Book of Allah, and as such is the command of
Allah. Should one seek to justify Allah’s commands?
The measure of a man’s love for his Creator is his unquestioned
obedience to the commands of the Creator. When for whole month a
Muslim has obeyed Allah, unquestioningly, without complaint, without
regret, and when he has spent his time in prayers, in humility and in
charity, should one wonder, if at the end of this period, the Creator
may Himself turn to such creature of His and say: “It is now for thee
to ask for Me to give.”
Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is the period when
man is subjected to a supreme test. Without compulsion, without
coercion, the Muslims throughout the world obey Allah; and every day
from dawn to sunset abstain not only from sensual pleasures but even
from the necessities of life like food and drink. Some do this in
shivering cold, some in burning heat, some do it where days are short
and others where days are interminably long. The rich fast as well as
the poor, the master as well as the servant; the parents as well as
the child; the ruler as well as the, subject. They all fast,
regardless of the colour or their social position.
Having done this, for one whole month, today on this auspicious day of
Eid Al-Fitr, every Muslim should be ready to face the year that lies
ahead with renewed strength, greater understanding and universal
goodwill. He has fasted to acquire piety, discipline and self-control.
Now the habit of unquestioning obedience to Allah is cultivated in his
heart and mind. He is now trained to accept the commands of Allah, in
the remaining eleven months of the year, with the same unwavering
loyalty. He has emerged from the month of Ramadan with a new
personality and a stronger character, confident of his ability to
subordinate his desire to his will, his emotion to his intellect.
No longer will it be difficult for him to refrain from intoxicating
drinks; no longer will he turn away from his less fortunate brethren;
no longer will he fail to understand and appreciate the pain of
hunger, the pangs of thirst.
So the training period of Ramadan has come to an end. Now we are
entering the era of normal activities of life. If the lessons learnt
in Ramadan have left their marks upon our character, we are entitled
to enjoy Eid Al-Fitr.
Eid Day prayers Philosphy & Importance of Dua:-
Eid-e- Fetr(Eid-al-Fitr) includes prayers that usually starts shortly
after sunrise. Men and women attend Eise’s prayers which is usually
held in mosques or in an open area where Mubarak” is exchanged which
means “Have a happy and blessed Eid” After prayers, people exchange
visits with relatives and friends. Special sweets and special meal are
prepared and shared.
And also they paid Skate (Zakah or fetrieh) to needy. Zakat (zakah or
fetrieh) is money that every Muslim pays to the poor and is equal to
the sum of the cost of a meal for their masters. As slaves became
free, they helped to free other slaves.
“O” Allah! Bless us in the day of our Eid and our fast breaking and
let it be the best day that has passed over us. Imam Ali Zainul
Abedeen (Imam Sajjad a.s) – Sahifa Al-Sajjadiyya
“O” the High and the Great [God]! “O” the Forgiving and the Merciful
[God]! You are the Great Lord like whom there is nothing. He is the
All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. This is the month that You have exalted,
honoured, glorified, and preferred over the other months; it is the
month whose fasting You have made obligatory on me; it is the month of
Ramadan in which You revealed the Qur’an as a guidance for people, as
clear signs of guidance and as a means of separating the right from
the wrong. And You placed in it the Night of Destiny which You have
made better than a thousand months. So “O” the Lord who favours others
and none can oblige Him, favour me by releasing my soul from the
hell-fire… and admit me in the Heaven by Your mercy. “O” the Most
Merciful of the Mercifuls.
Once on an Eid al-Fitr (Muslim Festival), Imam Hassan (a.s) saw a man
who had occupied his time with laughter and useless entertainment. At
that Imam Hassan (a.s) turned to his companions and said: “Allah
placed the holy month of Ramadan for people so that they compete with
each other in worship and obedience. In this competition, some excel,
achieve unlimited blessings of Allah, and (therefore) win the
competition. Whereas, others fall back, lose, and obtain nothing but
loss. It is striking that in such a day in which the righteous and the
hard workers will receive great rewards and the culpable and one’s who
did not try their best will see loss, (that they) keep themselves busy
with entertainment.”
One of the rituals done in this Muslim Festival is Salat al-Eid. In
addition to the fact that prayer (Salat) is a sign of Allah’s mercy
and munificence, each Salat can strengthen the ties one has with Allah
(SWT). Certain prayers allow one to gain specific blessings from Allah
(SWT). Hence, one who has the chance to perform such prayers may reach
to his/her own needs in addition to forgiveness and special gifts from
the almighty Allah. The prayer of Eid al-Fitr belongs to this category
of prayers. On such an important Eid, one should be hopeful of Allah’s
mercy and forgiveness, rather than being hopeless because of his sins.
Moreover, despite disgrace of any individual as a consequence of sins,
one should seek Allah’s compassion through His Prophet(pbuh), Imams
(a.s) and those who attained high ranks. Indeed, Allah (SWT) will not
turn His servants down and everyone will be able to gain profit.
Thus, one should perform the prayer with special attention and a
hopeful heart toward Allah’s mercy and kindness.
Muslims are both happy and sad:-
They are happy they successfully pass this period they are sad
because, Ramadan that was Full of Mercy and kindness for them, and Sad
,because Ramadhan was finished and they should wait it until one year
another.
Ammer-ul-Momineen Hazrat Imam Ali(A.S)’s Sermon On the day of Eid-ul-fitr:-
Eid-ul-Fitr is a great day of festival for Muslims. It is a day of
rejoicing and being happy. But for whom? Is it the day of rejoicing
for those who simply put on new clothes and wear perfume? Or is it the
day of being happy for those who were eagerly waiting for the release
of the greatest enemy of mankind, Satan, from his captivity so that
they all revert to committing sins?
Unfortunately, many Muslims abstain from sins during the month of
Ramadan, but come Eid-ul-Fitr, they go back to what they were before!
Cassettes of prayers, which were in their cars during the holy month
of Ramadan, are thrown back into their cases and replaced with those,
which are unlawful, by Shari’ah. The forbidden places from which they
had abstained for month long, are infact the same places they go to
celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.
Just as, when a person goes to a college, or a university and at the
completion of his course, he receives his award marking his
achievement, we must understand that, the holy month of Ramadan is a
spiritual university where we are being trained to achieve Taqwa i.e.
piety. The day of Eid-ul-Fitr is when Allah (SWT) is awarding us for
our achievements.
On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, Hazrat Ali (A.S.) delivered a sermon in
which he said:
“O people! Verily this day of yours is the day when the righteous are
awarded and the wretched are losers. It is a day which is similar to
the one on which you shall be standing (before your Lord). Therefore,
when you come out of your homes to go to places of your prayer, remind
yourselves about the day when you (your souls) shall come out of your
bodies to go to your Lord. When you stand on places of your prayer,
remind yourselves of your standing in presence of your Lord (on the
day of Judgement). And when you return to your homes (after prayer),
remind yourselves about your returning to your homes in Paradise. O
Servants of Allah! Verily the minimum reward for those men and women
who fasted (during Ramadan), is an Angel, who calls out to them on the
last day of the month of Ramadan (saying): O SERVANTS OF ALLAH!
REJOICE THE GLAD TIDING THAT ALL YOUR PREVIOUS SINS HAVE BEEN
FORGIVEN. Therefore, watch out in those things which serve as your
re-creation (on this day and days to follow)” (Nahjul-Balaghah).
Written Compiled & Contributed By. S H Bangash .
