It is that time of the year again when greetings of ‘Eid Mubarak’ are going to be heard across the world. The holy month of Ramadan is drawing to an end and it is the time to celebrate Eid ul Fitr or Hari Raya Aidilfitri. We might have noticed a lot of our friends skipping their meals over the course of the past month. Ramadan fasting is not something unusual to us. Year after year we watch our Muslim brethren observing with great zeal and fervor the dawn to dusk fast during their Holy month. But what is the story behind this tradition? What are the ideals to be cherished during the month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid?
From the times of the Prophet
The celebration of Eid Ul Fitr (or Hari Raya as it is known across South East Asia) was instituted by Prophet Muhammad himself. Some sources attribute the tradition to the time when the Prophet shifted to the city of Medina. He is said to have observed the people at Medina conducting celebrations during two days of the year. The Prophet then asked the people to change the dates and celebrate the two days of Eid Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha instead as those were the days which God had said aside for them to celebrate. It is also said Muhammad asked his followers to celebrate Eid Ul Fitr as a token of gratitude to God who had given mankind divine knowledge through the verses of the Qur’an.
A time to get closer to God
According to Islam, the month of Ramadan which precedes Eid ul Fitr is the holiest month. So, it’s not limited to fasting? Well, it is more than that. In addition to fasting, followers devote special attention to prayer and charity. This is equally important. Ramadan is a month of penance and people seek to atone for the wrongs that they might have committed.
The Islamic Lunar calendar and Eid
The date on which Eid ul Fitr falls varies from year to year. Do you know that the Islamic religion follows a lunar calendar of their own? It is called the Hijri calendar and has about 10 days lesser than the Gregorian calendar. As a result, the dates of Eid ul Fitr get pushed back by about 10 days every year. The day of celebrations may vary across the globe. It depends on the local citing of the special crescent marking the start of the 10th month – Shawwal. As a result, some parts of the world might celebrate Eid ul Fitr a day earlier than others. The night before the special day is marked with mosques that are overcrowded with devotees reciting special prayers.
The festivities
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a time of great joy. It is a public holiday. Families get together to share in the happiness of the day. They purchase new clothes and give gifts to their parents and kids. But the main attraction of the day is definitely the special feast that is prepared. If you ever get invited to one of these feasts, consider yourself lucky and grab the invitation with open arms. Delicacies of beef, chicken, rice and other mouth-watery items are followed by the best of desserts. Beef rendang, Ketupat and Sayur Lodeh are some of the dishes that decorate the tables on this special occasion.
The month of Ramadan and the festivities of Eid ul Fitr offer a great message to mankind. They speak for brotherhood, love and compassion. Let us imbibe this spirit while we partake in the sumptuous meals and colourful celebrations.
Eid Mubarak!
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