Eid al-Fitr- festivity marking the end of fasting in Ramadan

Ramadan is about to fold away its days and nights of Allah’s special blessings and mercy and not return for another year. We have enjoyed fasting and by becoming closer to Allah in this month feel spiritually elevated in faith and all aspects of our imaan.

A question could be asked about why we celebrate the end of fasting season with so much festivity?

Celebrations are a very natural way of expressing joy and elation for individual, family, community or national achievements. People celebrate for all sorts of reasons in their private or public life. Many events are for national pride or local landmark events. People also celebrate religious milestones, the births of saints and the founders of religious movements, but many of these religious celebrations can be seen as based on myths or on notions held by secretive and ill informed groups. Indeed some are derived solely from folklore and are celebrations of ancient cultural traditions.

The Eid or Islamic festival celebrates none of the above. It contains a completely different dimension which places great emphasis on the more practical achievements of multi-fold religious, social, spiritual, charitable and moral actions.   

Let us see what the Quran says about celebrating such joy. In Surah 10 verses 57-58, Allah subhanahu wa-t`ala says: ‘Mankind! Now there has come to you an exhortation from your Lord, a healing for the ailments of the hearts, and a guidance and a mercy for those who believe. Tell them (O Prophet): ‘let them rejoice in Allah’s Grace and mercy through which this (Book) has come to you. It is better than all the riches they accumulate.’

This Quranic verse, in a way, lays down some ground rules for the notion of celebration, but first, let us see what the tradition of the Prophet says about the celebration. We have hadith which clearly explain why Eids were instituted for the Muslim community by the prophet himself. A hadith, narrated from Anas ibn Malik may Allah be pleased with him, says: ‘the people of Madinah celebrated on two days every year in the era of Jahiliyah, with playful games. So when the Prophet came (to Madinah), he said: ‘you had two days celebrating them with playful games. Now Allah has replaced them with what is better; the Eid al-Fitr and the Day of Sacrifice’. 

From the above Quranic verses and the hadith the reasons behind Islamic festivities become clearer. The Quranic verse draws our attention towards the following facts:

(a)An exhortation has come from the Lord.

(b)A healing is offered for ailments of the heart

(c)A guidance is shown.

(d)Mercy is offered.

Any celebration is an act of elation in the heart by receiving what was dear and beloved and most desired. Once we fully recognise what a gift has been granted, in the light of the above, the Eid becomes an occasion truly worthy of celebration.

Allah’s exhortations help the spiritual and physical development of mankind, purify the heart and remove the depression and mental stress in our lives and offer guidance and mercy to mankind for their success in this life and in the hereafter. Such munificence is undoubtedly worth celebrating.

Similarly the hadith tells us that people of Madinah had two days in their national life which were celebrated with the display of games, perhaps rowdy ones, no doubt often coupled with effects of alcohol. This manner of celebration, which forms the greater part of modern celebrations across the cultural divides, is not what Islam has in mind for its own festivals.

The Islamic spirit directs that it must be a thanksgiving event to Allah, in which we must recognise the purpose of the gifts offered to us and act accordingly. Islam, after the two Eids were established, has no further national (on the level of Ummah) festivity occasions.

Eid is a blessed day, a day of rewards for those who submitted themselves sincerely to Allah and fasted or respected the fasting provisions in the month of Ramadan but were unable to fast.

Muslims, towards the end of the month of Ramadan, distribute Zakat al-Fitr before they celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Zakat al-Fitr must be taken out and distributed to needy and poor before the Eid prayer starts. 

Narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas, he says that the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, has prescribed Zakat al-Fitr as a means of purification for the fasting person from idleness and indecency (in Ramadan) and food for the poor and needy. Whoever takes it out before the Eid prayer then it is accepted as zakat. If distributed after the Eid prayer then it would be treated as normal charity’.

A Muslim, when going out for Eid prayer, which should be celebrated outdoors or at bigger venues to accommodate the whole community, should recite takbeer, glorifying Allah for the completion of His favours upon them. We should not proceed without the recital of takbeer which is a very important feature of the whole celebration on the day.

A Muslim is expected to greet or offer greetings of Eid to family, friends and the Muslim community. This act introduces good feelings, patches up differences, aids reconciliation between people and ensures we continue to enjoy the true spirit of the month of Ramadan throughout the day of Eid and afterwards.

Both festival days are linked with two important pillars of Islam: Ramadan and Hajj. To demonstrate the importance of these two days, when all Muslims must participate in the Eid prayers, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, would encourage the whole Muslim community to go outside for prayers, even unmarried women and women in their period. Women in their monthly cycle are not allowed to offer their prayers but are allowed and indeed encouraged to be part of the gathering.

We must ensure that Eid celebration is as close to the spirit of the Quranic teachings and Sunnah guidance as possible. We must not try to emulate other peoples’ festivals and celebrations.  The distinctive manner in which we celebrate our Eid festivals must be maintained and no nonsensical outside elements must be allowed to intrude on them or displace them.

Eid is a day of rejoicing and so it would be beneficial if non Muslim friends and relatives are also invited to any celebration. It would, perhaps, help them towards a clearer understanding of Islam and Islamic traditions and maybe they will find alternatives, in their own world, for celebrations which avoid rowdiness and are drug and alcohol free.