Eid-ul-Fitr: An occasion of thanksgiving

By: Naema Hussein

Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and advent of Shaval – the 10th month of Islamic calender, is a thanksgiving occasion when the Muslims offer their gratitude to Allah for helping them in fulfillment of their spiritual obligations prior to the Eid.

This form of thanksgiving is not confined to spiritual devotion and verbal expressions, it goes far beyond that to manifest itself in a handsome shape of social and humanitarian spirit. The Muslims who have completed the fasting of Ramadan express their thanks to Allah by means of distributing alms among the poor and needy on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Eid is also a harvest day. All the good workers in the service of Allah and all the faithful believers reap the fruits of their good deeds on the day as Allah grants His mercy and blessings abundantly.

In view of the great significance attached to this day of Eid, several traditions regarding prayers and worship of Allah on this day have been quoted from the Holy Prophet (p) and his Ahlul-Bait (p). To perform 13 things on this day is Sunnah:

1- rising with the crack of dawn

2- bathe

3- clean the teeth with Miswak

4- wearing new and neat garments

5- adorning oneself as permitted by Shari'ah

6- using perfume

7- going to the Eid Gah very early

8- eating something sweet like dates before going for Eid prayer

9- giving Sadqa-e-Fitr before going to Eid Gah

10- going to the Eid Gah by one way and coming back another way

11- going to Eid Gah on foot

12- reciting slowly on the way to the Eid Gah,

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd.”

13- offering Eid prayer in the Eid Gah and not in the mosque of the locality except with any legitimate excuse.

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