'Eid ul Fitr
A GINA feature by Sandhya Matturah
Georgetown , GINA, November, 11, 2004
Muslims throughout the world celebrate 'Eid-ul-Fitr on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, following the month of Ramadan. Following the Lunar calendar, Muslims mark the beginning of the month with the sighting of the new moon.
Ramadan the ninth month of the Muslim lunar year has double significance as this is the month that the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and that night is called the Night of Power - Layla-tul Qadr, the night when a single moment of enlightenment of the Noor of Allah converts the night into a period of Spiritual glory and majesty that touches eternity.
Muslims strive to make themselves pure, especially during this month, by ritual and spiritual observances to make ready for Companionship on High.
This month has been declared sacred in the Holy Quran wherein Allah says:
2-183 - O you who believe, fasting is prescribed on you as it was prescribed on those before you so that you may become self-restrained.'
2:185 - The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days; and for those who are able to fast only with great difficulty, is an expiation - the feeding of a poor man. And whoso does good of his own accord it is better for him. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew.
'Eid, which means “festivity” in Arabic, is celebrated the day after the sighting of the new moon. Eid-ul-Fitr is the first of two celebrations in Islam. The second is called Eid ul-Adha and falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hajj, which is the 12th month and occurs during the Hajj (pilgrimage).
The excitement of the sighting of the new moon is worth experiencing... especially for children. As their excitement builds and rumors start of the sighting in some remote locale, as yet officially unconfirmed, their eyes shine with joy as they anticipate Eid and the typical preparations preceding Eid.
Children usually fast for the first time at seven, building up to the whole month by 12 or 14 years. The young ones are allowed to keep fasting like birds. They can peck all day long, which means that they can fast from pre-dawn meal to breakfast, breakfast to lunch, and then from lunch to the dusk meal.
For the last 1400 years, over one billion Muslims throughout the world, pay special attention to esoteric matters by practising the exoteric fasting by refraining from dishonesty, stealing, unethical actions, and other activities that would lead one astray.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sun-up to sun-down daily, not having anything to eat, nor drink, no smoking or indulging in sexual relations. A special feast is prepared for the breaking of the fast, where everyone present is invited to partake of the dinner after the all-day fast.
The month ends with special festivities on the Eid-Ul-Fitr (Day of Feasting) celebration when families and friends truly rejoice for having completed the commandment of Allah by successful abstinence. Sultan H. Rahaman, acting President of Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, in a statement, said the day of Eid marks the end of the Holy and Blessed month of Ramadan, a month in which Muslims worldwide participate in physical and spiritual purification. He said “There is only one good, namely knowledge; and only one evil, namely ignorance.” He appeals to Guyanese men, women and young people to stop the killing, robbing and raping, and not to differentiate between race and politics or religion. He said Guyanese need to regain the values for life and moral standards. Chief Executive Officer of CIOG, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, said Islam exhorts Muslims who can afford it to offer to charity in the month of
Eid-Ul-Fitr.
This serves to address the need of the underprivileged and allows them to celebrate with everyone else.
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