Eid al-Fitr
The literal meaning of Eid al-Fitr is “the festival of breaking the fast”—a celebration that marks the end of fasting and the start of eating and drinking again. It is an annual Islamic festival observed on the first day of Shawwal, right after Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr is a simple and joyful celebration; nothing in it is mandatory or obligatory; all its practices are either Sunnah (recommended) or encouraged. While fasting is not allowed on the day of Eid al-Fitr, no specific actions have been made obligatory. Essentially, Eid al-Fitr is a day of joyful celebration and relief after a month of intense spiritual effort.
On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims wake up in the morning, take a bath, wear new clothes, apply perfume, eat something sweet (like seviyan in the indian subcontinent), and then go to the mosque for the congregational prayer. There, they offer two rak‘ahs. In this prayer, the words “Allah-u-Akbar” (God is the Greatest) are said more often than in regular prayers. After the prayer, everyone prays to God together. On the way to the mosque and while returning, they keep saying:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil-hamd
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, there is no god but God, and God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, and all praise is for God.
It is better for all Muslims in the area to gather at one place to pray—men, women, and children should all be present. They should go one way and return another. In this way, believers show their strong connection with God. After the prayer, people meet and greet each other. They visit the homes of family and friends. The young greet their elders with respect, while the elders give gifts and Eidi—money or small presents—to the young. This way, the whole day is spent in happiness, eating, and sharing joy.
This Eid al-Fitr is not just a national festival. It has a special meaning and is deeply connected to the Islamic way of life. According to Islamic belief, Eid is a sign or reminder of the Day when all greatness will belong to God alone. All honour will be given to those who lived in this world—at a time of test—as true and faithful servants of God. When the hard and difficult days of those believers are over, their Lord will bring them into an eternal world of joy and peace, from which they will never be removed.
According to Islam, a person’s life has two parts: one before death, and one after death. The life before death is the time to do good actions. The life after death is the time to receive the results of those actions.
Before death, a person must live a careful and responsible life. After death, as a reward, he will be granted a life of complete freedom and happiness. The month of fasting is a sign of life before death, and the day of Eid al-Fitr is a sign of life after death.
In the life before death, a person must live by the will of God. Whatever he does, he should stay within the boundaries set by God and avoid what is forbidden. For example, he should always speak the truth and avoid lying. He should earn honestly and not resort to stealing or cheating. In dealing with others, he should always be fair and never be unjust. His heart should be full of love and care, not hatred or jealousy.
Fasting is a fundamental element of a responsible life. It reminds individuals to live carefully and with self-control in this world. During fasting, one ceases eating and drinking as per God’s command. This involves altering one’s routine, controlling desires, and following God’s will rather than one’s own. For one month, this constitutes a form of training. Fasting, therefore, imparts the lesson of a responsible life that should be led in this world.
After this period of discipline in Ramadan, the day of Eid al-Fitr arrives on the first of Shawwal, when all the restrictions are lifted and a person is free to enjoy the day. If during Ramadan a person has learned the lesson of life before death, then on the day of Eid al-Fitr, he sees a glimpse of the life after death. Fasting is a symbol of a Muslim’s life in this world, and Eid al-Fitr is a symbol of a Muslim’s life in the Hereafter.
The month of fasting followed by Eid al-Fitr reminds individuals that if they live a disciplined life in this world in accordance with God’s commands, they will be rewarded with a life of happiness in the next life. There, they will face neither restrictions nor any kind of hardship.
All India Radio, New Delhi, 3 August 1981.
