Eid al-Fitr: A festival of unity and thanksgiving

Heraa Hashmi
June 25, 2017

Today as the first rays of sunlight appeared, Muslims in many countries wake for Eid al-Fitr, the festival of the breaking of the fast. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month in which every Muslim (who is able to) fasts from food and water from dawn to dusk. The Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, was believed to have been revealed during this month.

eidulfitr

Eid al-Fitr is one of two annual festivals in Islam, different from Eid al-Adha, oft used interchangeably due to the similar names. This Eid, Eid al-Fitr, celebrates the completion of Ramadan, while Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.

The exact date of Eid al-Fitr is difficult to predict as it’s dependent on the Islamic lunar-based calendar. The dates are decided according to the phases of the moon so it moves 10 to 11 days back each year in respect to the solar-based Gregorian calendar. Eid al-Fitr is observed when the new moon is sighted in the region, signifying the end of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, and the start of the 10th month, Shawwal. This year it is on the 25th of June, but many countries around the world will be celebrating it on the 26th or 27th.

The significance of Eid al-Fitr is primarily spiritual. The month of Ramadan is seen as the holiest month of the year, culminating in Eid. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven” (Sahih Muslim and Bukhari).

Muslims thank Allah for enabling them the health and capacity to fast and worship throughout the month. It is not a celebration of the end of Ramadan, but rather of the happiness of remaining steadfast through a blessed time. In fact, the day of Eid al-Fitr is one of the only days of the year on which fasting is prohibited, as the day is reserved for celebration. Many Muslims feel sorrow at the passing of Ramadan, counting the days until the next year arrives.

Eid al-Fitr is observed a public holiday in many Muslim countries, with school and work taking vacation days. In non-Muslim majority countries, this is not the case, but many employers and schools will make allowances for Muslims to take time off for their celebration.

Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr by spending time with loved ones and contributing to the community. It is obligatory upon Muslims, provided they are financially stable, to begin the day by paying Zakat al-Fitr (a special alms given at the end of Ramadan) to the poor and needy so they may have the means to celebrate the day along with others. Zakat al-Fitr is a special form of charity, given in addition to the annual zakat of 2.5% of one’s economic surplus. Charity is a vital aspect of Islam as one of its pillars. If one is not financially able to give zakat, they are eligible as a recipient instead.

Once the religious duty is fulfilled, Muslims gather to offer Eid Prayer, a special prayer only done twice a year. The prayer is usually offered early in the morning. Muslims greet each other by saying “Eid Mubarak, translated as “have a blessed Eid”.

The prayer is followed by a short sermon to remind people of the blessings of God, to reflect on the holy month that’s been completed. While the entire month was a time of spirituality and developing good habits, the day of Eid marks the beginning of a goal to maintain those habits throughout the year.

After the prayer, there are other traditions of Eid, such as wearing one’s best clothes and visiting family and friends. Sweets are exchanged, women and children adorn their hands with mehendi, and luncheons and dinners are often held with a spread of a variety of food. Kids are given Eidi, gifts of money, from the elders in the community. In Ramadan, one of the recommended ways to break fast is with the community, and this carries into the Eid celebrations. Muslims are encouraged to share meals with their neighbors, coworkers, and classmates.

Celebrations last long into the night and even throughout the week. It’s seen as a time of unity and giving thanks to Allah (God) for enabling them to complete the month of spiritual cleansing, forgiveness, and compassion.

Heraa Hashmi

The author, Heraa Hashmi, is a 19 year old University student at Boulder, Colorado. She’s studying Molecular Biology and is the president of Muslim Student Association. Recently she founded Muslims Condemn, a spreadsheet with over 5000 instances of Muslims condemning terrorism and is a part of the Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University, an initiative dedicated to tackling Islamophobia through education. This is her first article for coastaldigest.com

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News Network
June 9,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 9: A 24-year-old who wanted to experience the feeling of death lost his life after consuming pesticide — he recorded it all on TikTok — in Koratagere taluk of Tumakuru district on Saturday evening.

Chided by his mother for not earning money, Dhananjaya, a resident of Gouraganahalli, on Saturday evening bought pesticide from a shop and shot a 15-second TikTok video, saying, “I want to experience the feeling of what death would be like. I will try to kill myself.”

Locals rushed Dhananjaya to a nearby hospital where he breathed his last the next morning. Koratagere police registered a case of unnatural death.

According to police, Dhananjaya had in the past rammed his Bajaj Pulsar bike into a tree to ‘experience’ death but had survived with minor injuries. Villagers and family members had advised him to not to take such risks. But he continued to do so as he was obsessed with death and posted his opinion regularly on TikTok, where he had 431 followers.

He tied the knot four months ago and was running an autorickshaw on rent. However, his earnings reduced to zero during the lockdown and he wasn’t mentally stable, claimed villagers.

Investigators said Dhananjaya wanted to scare his mother with his suicide threat and wanted to ‘experience’ death. He consumed poison near a farm but later panicked thinking he would die. However, he was not in a position to ride back home. He called his friend, who visited the spot and shifted him to hospital on Saturday night, police said.

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News Network
January 27,2020

Mysuru, Jan 27: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday refused to field questions on the state’s finances, merely saying his budget on March 5 will do the talking. The question came in the wake of Siddaramaiah, leader of the opposition, claiming recently that the state’s coffers were dry and its finances were in the doldrums.

However, Yediyurappa insisted the state’s finances were sound and it will be better once promises made by the business community during his trip to Davos turn into concrete investment.

“I will present the budget for 2020-21 on March 5. People will then know about the state’s financial position,” Yediyurappa said during a visit to Suttur Mutt on Sunday. “I will answer Siddaramaiah’s comments during the forthcoming budget session of the state legislature. The Davos meet I attended will benefit the state immensely. It will bring huge investments that will promote industry and agriculture growth and various job-generation activities.”

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News Network
January 3,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 3: The Karnataka high court on Thursday issued notices to the Railway Board and the South Western Railways on a petition seeking review of superfast surcharge being levied on passengers in Malgudi Express train.

Petitioner and Mysurubased advocate Mohammed Dastagir, in a public interest litigation claimed that as per the circular issued by the Railway Board on December 10, 2006, Malgudi Express — which runs from Mysuru to Yelehanka — is not designated as a superfast train and despite the same, the authorities are illegally collecting additional charges known as supplementary charges ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 75 from passengers.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka posted the petition to second week of February.

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