Ramzan, the Islamic month of fasting, culminates in the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is declared on the sighting of moon of Shawaal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar. Eid is the celebration for the blessings of Ramzan. Eid becomes very special for those who have fasted the whole month in obedience to God’s commands. Of Eid, Prophet Muhammad said, “These are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of God.”
Special congregational Eid prayers are held in the morning. Following in the tradition of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims go to a large mosque, and not necessarily to their locality mosques. Following in the ways of the Prophet, on the way to the mosque they chant: “Allah hu Akbar, Allah hu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd (God is the greatest, He is the greatest. There is no god except God. He is the greatest. All praises and thanks are for Him).”
Before the Eid prayer, a certain charity called “Zakat al-Fitr” has to be paid. This is a pre-requisite for one’s fasts to be accepted by Allah. It has been prescribed as a means of purification for the person who fasts, redressing wrong deeds and undesirable words uttered during the fast. One can either give five pounds of wheat, dates or barley, or their worth in money. The amount is decided in the last days of Eid, so people can give the charity well in time before the Eid prayers. This tradition is to encourage the spirit of sharing and enabling the poor to celebrate Eid.
Eid is time for family and friends. The elders give “Eidi” gift money to the children and other members of the household. Lunches and dinners are held to facilitate people meeting each other. The spirit of love, forgiveness and compassion prevails as people hug and wish each other.
Islamic traditions encourage Muslims to fast another six days after Eid, in order to keep alive the lessons learnt during the month of Ramzan, and to become devoted to God. Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever fasts of Ramzan then fasts six days in the month of Shawaal shall have the reward of having fasted the whole year.”
Hazrat Imam Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, defined Eid as any day free of rebellion against God. He said, “Eid is for those whose fasts have been accepted and whose prayers are worthy of reckoning, and every day when one does not commit a sin is Eid.”
Muslims become very cautious of their speech and behaviour during Ramzan, but most of us slip back into the regular mode soon after. Losing our God consciousness, patience and mindfulness, we slip back into the trappings of worldly pleasure. If we allow that to happen and are not able to control our temper, anger, impatience or negative activity, we are defeating the purpose of Ramzan. It is important to remember that the God we worship on sacred days and sacred months is the God of each day and every moment.
Sadia Dehlvi is a Delhi-based writer and author of Sufism: The Heart of Islam. She can be contacted at sadiafeedback@gmail.com
