At the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated. It is the most auspicious occasion in the Islamic calendar. It is an occasion when the hearts of the people fasting are filtered and all impurities are removed from the soul. The negative thoughts that hang in the mind are purified and give hope for a better and prosperous future. What makes it more special is that everyone exchanges congratulations on Eid. If there are residues of strife or grudge in the hearts even after Ramadan, they slip away and disappear on Eid, if there is frowning in the faces, the Eid brings joy to the souls and smiles to the faces.
On this day, every person should disassociate himself from conceit and ostentation so that he does not consider himself to be richer, wealthier, or better than others. The rich, no matter how much money he has, must not believe that he is better than the poor, because the criterion of superiority in Islam is Taqwa (fear of Allah(S.W.T)).
On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, all Muslims gather at the place of Eid prayers (Musalla/Eid Gah) for worship. The same words of Takbir and Tahmid, Tasbeeh and Tahlil are uttered on everyone’s tongue. By the command of Allah(S.W.T), after fasting for a month, the servants of Allah(S.W.T) come to the place of Eid seeking His mercy and forgiveness. Every Muslim is overjoyed to see this soul-stirring scene.
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Essence of ElD
What a beautiful concept it is of Eid, that it enshrines Muslims to be cooperative, compassionate, and friendly with their brothers. Eid is a day of joy and bliss according to religion, an expression of love and brotherhood.
A happy and righteous society is the one that uplifts the morals and brotherhood of Eid to the highest peak. How beautiful it is for joy to be associated with Eid by striving to relieve the pain of an orphan and sympathy for the bereaved, and to search for those with needs, and whoever cannot afford money should help them with a kind word, a caring smile, a pure invitation from a sincere heart.
Philosophy of Eid
Monotheism
Among the objectives of Eid: the devotee’s confirming the oneness of Allah(S.W.T), his submission to Allah(S.W.T), his surrender and his love for Allah(S.W.T), so the first objective of Eid is the monotheism of Allah(S.W.T), and belief that He is alone and has no partner in terms of worshipping, supplication, fearing, seeking hope and refuge, assistance, trust, slaughtering, vowing, or any other types of worship. This monotheism is the root of the religion on which every branch of Sharia is based.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah’s Right upon His slaves is that they should worship Him Alone and associate nothing with Him; and His slaves’ right upon Him is that He should not punish who does not associate a thing with Him.” (Sahih-Al-Bukhari 2856) [Sahih]
Expression of servitude to Allah(S.W.T)
The fasting person who benefited from the training of fasting throughout the month is the one who is not so overwhelmed by the joy of Eid that he forgets the duty of thanksgiving and recognition of the blessings and the one who restricts himself from releasing his wicked desires, deters himself from sins. The day of Eid is not an ushering in commencement of sin, rather it is a day to show joy and pleasure and to thank Allah Almighty for having successfully performed great and solemn worship.
Compassion
Another objective of Eid is the achievement of intimacy, sympathy and compassion between Muslims.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Sahih Bukhari 6011) [Sahih]
How beautiful it is for Muslims on their Eid to be cooperative, compassionate and friendly with their brothers. Eid is a day of joy and bliss according to the religion, an expression of love and brotherhood. A happy and righteous society is the one in which morals and brotherhood on Eid rise to the highest peak. How beautiful it is for joy to be associated with Eid by striving to relieve the pain of an orphan and sympathy for the bereaved, and to search for those with needs, and whoever cannot afford money should help them with a kind word, a caring smile and a pure invitation from a sincere heart.
Why Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated?
Eid is celebrated as a festival because people perform fasting, one of the obligatory duties of Islam throughout the month of Ramadan. So, Allah Almighty has made this day a feast for them on which they can rejoice.
Muslims rejoice, do permissible play and thank Allah Almighty for this blessing. It doesn’t mean at all that they rejoice due to getting rid of fasting. They rather rejoice that they are saved by fasting from wrongdoing and Hellfire; the difference is that whoever thought of getting rid of fasting, feels that fasting is a burden for him, and that he is happy that he got rid of it, and as for those who intend to get rid of misdeed, he rejoices that he got rid of sins by it; because whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, Allah(S.W.T) will forgive his previous minor sins, whoever performs night prayers of Ramadan in faith and seeking reward, Allah(S.W.T) will forgive his sins, and whoever performs the Night of Decree in faith and seeking reward his previous sins will be forgiven Inshah’Allah.
One rejoices on Eid Al Fitr, because he got rid of sins. And the heedless rejoices on Eid ul-Fitr because he got rid of fasting in which he finds trouble and hardship. This is the difference between two kinds of joyful persons on Eid.
When is Eid Ul-Fitr Celebrated?
Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated after the new moon is seen. If the moon is not seen due to clouds then the fast is observed for one more day (i.e. for 30 days in total).
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: “Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. and when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.” (Sahih Muslim 1081) [Sahih]
Fasting on eid day (Forbidden)
One should not fast on the day of Eid.
Abu Ubaid, the freed slave of Ibn Azhar, reported: “I observed Eid along with Umar b. al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him). He came (out in an open space) and prayed and (after) completing it addressed the people and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden the observing of fast on these two days. One is the day of Fitr (at the end of your fasts), and the second one, the day when you eat (the meat) of your sacrifices.” (Muslim 1137) [Sahih]
Narrated Ziyad bin Jubair:
A man went to Ibn `Umar I. and said, “A man vowed to fast one day (the sub-narrator thinks that he said that the day was Monday), and that day happened to be `Eid day.”
Ibn `Umar said, “Allah orders vows to be fulfilled and the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the fasting on this day (i.e. Eid). (Bukhari 1994) Sahih
Eid Greetings
Muslim congratulate on the day of Eid each other with the following sentences:
Taqballahu Minna Wa Mink. (May Allah accept from us and you.)
Taqballahu Siyamaka wa Qiyamaka. (May Allah accept your fasting and night prayers.)
There is nothing wrong to use any something similar sentences likewise reported from some companions of Prophet – Allah be pleased with them – that they used to congratulate with Taqballahu Minna Wa Mink. (May Allah accept from us and you.) On the day of Eid. (As-Sunan Al-Kubra: 3/319)
Credits: Brother Abdur Rahman Alamgir