EID
UL FITR CELEBRATION (END OF RAMADAN FESTIVAL): EID FITR IS A DAY OF
THANKSGIVING TO ALLAH (SWT)
by
Syarif Hidayat
Muslims around the world celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr, the End of Ramadan Fasting Month Festival on Thursday, August 8,
2013 (1 Shaw’wal, 1434H). EID-UL-FITR is
celebrated on the first day of Shaw'waal, at the completion of Ramadan.
Shaw'waal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The Eid-ul-Fitr is a very
joyous day; it is a true Thanksgiving Day for the believing men and women. On
this day Muslims show their real joy for the health, strength and the
opportunities of life, which Allah has given to them to fulfill their obligation
of fasting and other good deeds during the blessed month of Ramadan.
Eid ul-Fitr
(Arabic: الفطر عيد ʻĪd al-Fiṭr, IPA:
[ʕiːd al fitˤr], "festival of breaking
of the fast"), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast,
Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid (the Greater Eid is Eid
ul-Adha),
is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks
the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid
is a single day and Muslims are not permitted to fast that day.
The
holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset
fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on
the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the
world show a common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri
month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious
authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However in
most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia.
Eid ul-Fitr
has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two Rakats (units) and
generally offered in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in
congregation (Jama’at) and, has an additional extra six Takbirs (raising of the
hands to the ears while saying "Allāhu Akbar", literally "God is
greatest"), three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and three
of them just before Ruku' in the second raka'ah in the Hanafi school of Sunni
Islam.
Other Sunni
schools usually have twelve Takbirs, seven in the first, and five at the
begining of the second raka'ah. This Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on which juristic
opinion is followed, Fard (obligatory), Mustahabb (strongly recommended, just
short of obligatory) or mandoob (preferable). Muslims believe that they are
commanded by God Amighty Allah, as mentioned in the Quran, to continue their
fast until the last day of Ramadan and pay the Zakat and fitra before offering
the Eid prayers.
Eid ul Fitr 2013
is going to be celebrated on Thursday, the 8th of August this year. If you are hoping to take part in it then you
need to know exactly how it is celebrated though. This will help you to prepare
yourself and you will also have a deeper appreciation for the day.
How You
Can Prepare and Celebrate It
Sunnah
of Eid
- Wake up early.
- Prepare for personal cleanliness, take care of details of clothing, etc.
- Take a Ghusl (bath) after Fajr.
- Brush your teeth.
- Dress up, putting on best clothes available, whether new or cleaned old ones.
- Use perfume (men only).
- Have breakfast on Eid-al-Fitr before leaving for prayer ground. On Eid-al-Adha, eat breakfast after Salaat or after sacrifice if you are doing a sacrifice.
- Pay Zakaat-al-Fitr before Salaat-al-Eid (on Eid-al-Fitr).
- Go to prayer ground early.
- Offer Salaat-al-Eid in congregation in an open place except when whether is not permitting like rain, snow, etc.
- Use two separate route to and from the prayer ground.
- Recite the following Takbir on the way to Salaat and until the beginning of Salaat-al-Eid:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great
La illaha il Allah
there is no God, but Allah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great
La illaha il Allah
there is no God, but Allah
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great, Allah is Great
walilahil Hamd
to Him belongs all Praise
to Him belongs all Praise
Eid ul Fitr
represents the end of the month of Ramadan. This is a month where Muslims fast
from dawn to dusk. During these times they are not allowed to eat any food, nor
are they allowed to drink anything while it is still daytime out. The reason why fasting is so important to the
Muslims is because of what it represents. It represents sacrifice. Sacrifice is
a way to show appreciation or a way to show a certain level of commitment.
Fasting also means self-restraint and purification. You might not want to take
part in the fast that leads up to Eid ul Fitr 2013, but it will make the day
have a lot more meaning for you if you did. Muslims in the states who are
serious will follow the month of Ramadan.
Not
only is the month leading up to Eid ul Fitr about fasting, but it is also a way
to pay respect. Eid ul Fitr is is the ending of the month long fasting as
already stated. Muslims look at this as a reward for all they have gone through
during this time. So this means when they get the chance to celebrate they make
sure they celebrate hard. Eid does not start though until the sighting of the
new moon. But once it does take place it is a happy occasion for all. It is a
time to spread about happiness, love and other positive emotions.
In 2013 like
other years, Eid ul Fitr is going to be celebrated with a great sense of
enthusiasm and energy. People are going to do some of the things they have
always done such as decorating their houses or making nice tasting sweets in
order to celebrate the festival. This is something you might want to think
about doing in order to celebrate Eid ul Fitr.
One of the best ways for you to celebrate Eid would be for you to make
sure you wear new clothes. New clothes represent purification. Seeing as how
you would have just completed a month of fasting, the new clothes are
appropriate. There should also be special prayer ceremonies in nearby mosques
you can take part in.
Another thing you
might want to do in order to celebrate Eid ul Fitr 2013 would be to give gifts
and cards to family and friends. The gifts do not have to be elaborate, just
colorful and thoughtful. They should be in line with what the holiday
represents in order to give them meaning.
Tw0
great Islamic festival: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha
Eid-ul-Fitr is
one of the two great Islamic festivals, the other being Eid-ul-Azha. Its
importance can be judged from the fact that Almighty Allah Himself ordered the
believers to celebrate it. Eid-ul-Fitr has a special significance for the
Muslim society. Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) established the Islamic
egalitarian society, free of all kinds of exploitation and corruption, and
maintaining the sanctity of this society was made the obligation of the
believers in every age.
For this
purpose, the holy month of fasting (Ramadan) was selected to help prepare
believers for this responsibility. In this training, during the specific
fasting periods believers are required to refrain from enjoying such things,
which are otherwise lawful for them. The purpose of this exercise is mentioned
in the following verse of the Holy Quran: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent,
the Merciful. "O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed
for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become
Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)." (Al Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqara, Verse:183)
Believers
happily obey these injunctions to please Almighty Allah. Such an exercise has
pleasant effects on the practical life of believers and, in their practical
life, helps them refrain from adopting corrupt ways. Some jurists maintain that
Itikaf (Etekaaf) during the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan is also a part
of this training. In this worship, the believer confines himself in a mosque
for the specified period of time.
The Islamic
society, established in the light of the above teachings was a symbol of the
greatness of Almighty Allah on this earth. Actually it was a gigantic
achievement, which deserved all kinds of rejoicing. That is why Almighty Allah
Himself asked the believers to enjoy this occasion, In this respect the Holy
Quran says: "Say: "In the Bounty of Allâh, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islâm
and the Qur'ân); -therein let them rejoice." That is better than what (the
wealth) they amass." (Al Qur'an, Surah Yunus, Verse:58)
Simplicity
a symbol of the Islamic society
Today, the
provision of shelter, dress and food are enumerated as the three basic human
needs, and equality in meeting these needs results in all egalitarian society.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) already solved the issue of shelter once and for
all. He himself lived in a simple house and expected his Companions to follow
him in this respect.
Once when a
wealthy Companion built a palatial building, Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)
disliked it to such an extent that he socially boycotted that Companion (Sunnan
Abu Daud, vol.4, p. 487). As a result of the Holy Prophet's stern attitude in
this respect, none of the Companions ever dared to have an edge over his fellow
believers in the matter of construction of buildings. Due to this policy, even
the poor in the society were able to have shelter for themselves.
By dressing
simply on this happiest occasion of Eid Fitr, Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)
solved the issue of the second basic need of the society. The third basic need of society is food.
Today this need has attained such an importance that it results in political
change in many developing countries. By taking various steps, Holy Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.) ensured that nobody was deprived of this basic need in the
Islamic society. But the situation on festivals is usually different. On this
day, everybody tries to enjoy special dishes, which normally the poor cannot
afford.
Holy Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.) held this point in view, and he made such an efficient
arrangement that not only was good food guaranteed for all the poor of the
society on that day, but also some of their other needs were met.
Sadaqa-ul-Fitr (Zakat-e-Fitr)
Nowadays in
many localities, (Sadaqa-ul-Fitr) is adjusted against the emoluments of the
Imams of the local mosques, and the poor in the Muslim society air deprived of
a big chunk of money which may practically convert the present-day Muslim
society into an egalitarian society. It
may be mentioned here that the sacred festival of Eid Fitr has been selected by
Almighty Allah Himself to guide the believers to establish an egalitarian
Islamic society on the face of this earth. The Holy Quran was revealed during
the month of Ramadan about which it was marked: "It (the Holy Quran) is
better than that which they hoard." (Surah Yunus, Verse 58)
Hoarding
symbolizes a non-egalitarian society, which encourages the hoarding of
essential articles. This is done to fleece the needy persons. The Holy Quran
was revealed to eliminate this evil in all its details, and the month of
Ramadan was selected for this purpose. The successful completion of all the
various steps for establishing such an egalitarian society deserves rejoicing. Nowadays the Muslims with great pomp and show
celebrate Eid Fitr, but unfortunately its real spirit is ignored. That is why
the present-day Muslim society age, instead of becoming an egalitarian one, has
been divided into haves and have-nots.
This state of
affairs has not only robbed the majority of Muslims of their peace of mind, but
has also converted them into the weakest nation of the world. Such a situation
demands that steps be taken to celebrate this occasion of Eid Fitr in the same
sprit as during the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). In this way Muslims
will be able to convert their present day society into an Islamic egalitarian
one. It will prove beneficial for humanity as it proved so during the early
periods of Islam.
End of
Ramadan Festival
Islam wants
that all Muslims, whether rich or poor, should enjoy Eid. It has, therefore,
commanded all the well-to-do people to pay the Zakat-e-Fitr. This Zakat-e-Fitr
is paid on the very day of Eid Fitr. It consists of 3 kilograms of one's daily
food or its equivalent in cash. The
payment of Zakat-e-Fitr is obligatory upon every person who is adult, sane and
free at the time of the sunset on the last day of Ramadan, and is also not
dependent upon others for means of subsistence. If the person concerned is the
head of a family, it is incumbent upon him to pay his own Zakat-e-Fitr as well.
Zakat-e-Fitr is
the right of the poor and the needy, and can be spent for those purposes only,
for which Zakat, payable on property, is expendable. This includes helping the
deserving people and building hospitals, bridges, schools, etc. Nowadays, Zakat-e-Fitr is paid without any
planning, with the result that the deserving people do not derive any suitable
benefit from it. It would be better if the Zakat-e-Fitr paid by all the people,
is collected in one place and spent after proper planning, so that the
condition of a good number of needy persons may improve.
Eid Al-Fitr
2013: A Celebration At The End Of Ramadan
Traditionally,
the observance begins with the sighting of the new moon. While many will wait
to see the moon or an announcement from Mecca, the Fiqh Council of North
America has determined that Eid al-Fitr 2012 will fall on August 8, 2013, based
on astronomical calculations.
According to a
hadith attributed to Anas ibn Malik, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, the
two festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha were instituted by the Prophet
after his journey from Mecca to Medinah.
“When the
Prophet arrived in Medinah, he found people celebrated two specific days in
which they used to entertain themselves with recreation and merriment. He asked
them about the nature of these festivities to which they replied that these
days were occasions of fun and recreation. At this, the Prophet remarked that
the Almighty has fixed two days [of festivity] instead of these for you which
are better than these: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
The first Eid
al-Fitr was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions
after the victory of the battle of Jang-e-Badar. To mark the beginning of Eid and in
accordance with the Sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad, many Muslims
wake up early in the morning and pray Salat ul-Fajr, or the pre-dawn prayer.
After brushing their teeth, taking a bath and wearing perfume, they have
breakfast before heading off to perform special congregational prayers known as
Salaat al-Eid. Many Muslims recite the takbir, a declaration of faith, on the
way to the prayer ground and give special charitable contributions known as
Zakat al-Fitr.
Eid al-Fitr is
a day of great merriment and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with
friends and family, preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving
each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes. A
common greeting during this holiday is Eid
Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!” (HSH)
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