The Festival of Eid
The tradition of celebrating Eid al-Fitr in Islam started after the Hijrah. When the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Makkah to Madinah, he observed that the locals held two annual festivals, marked by entertainment and sport. He told them that God had granted the Muslim community two better days: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 1134). And thus, the Muslim celebration of these two festivals began.
Eid al-Fitr comes immediately after the end of Ramadan ends. That’s why it’s called the day of reward. During Ramadan, believers abstain from eating and drinking for a whole month. Now, on the day of Eid, they are free to eat and drink. So, Ramadan is the month of action, and Eid is the day they receive the reward for their efforts.
The beginning of Eid takes place with the sighting of the new moon. On the last day of Ramadan, all eyes look toward the sky. As soon as the new moon of Shawwal is seen, people say a prayer: O God, make this rising moon a moon of peace, safety, and obedience to You for us. Make this month a month of Your special mercy for us.
In this way, the Eid moon is not only a sign of joy for Muslims, but it also turns their attention to the Lord of the universe. It reminds them of God. They begin praying for themselves and for all humanity, saying: O God, let this new moon and the month it brings become a month of mercy and blessings for all of us.
On the night after sighting the Eid moon, Muslims offer special worship. They recite the Quran, offer extra (nafl) prayers, and make du‘a. In this way, the new moon becomes a reason for a new spiritual awakening.
In the morning, people bathe and clean themselves. They wear new clothes, and children and adults leave their homes to go to the Eidgah or mosque. On the way, they keep saying:
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, there is no god but God, God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, and to God belongs all praise.
In this way, all young and old gather at one place to offer two rak‘ahs of prayer. Through this prayer, they practically demonstrate that one God is the Master and God of all, and all human beings are His servants and creation. After the prayer, the prayer leader (imam) gives a speech in the form of a sermon. In it, he speaks about the greatness of God and reminds people that all human beings are created by one God. Everyone should worship Him and live on His earth as obedient servants.
After the prayer, people meet one another. They congratulate each other on the day of Eid. They share in one another’s happiness. This is called Eid Milan. Eid Milan is a way to increase mutual love. It means that a person should not celebrate alone but take part in others’ joy so that the entire environment becomes full of happiness.
After that, people visit the homes of their relatives, friends, and neighbours. They greet each other with As Salamu Alaykum (may peace be upon you). They speak with affection and kindness. In this way, meeting and sharing meals becomes a means of fostering unity. And especially on Eid, these social values are further strengthened.
To make Eid a day of happiness for everyone, Sadaqat al-Fitr has been prescribed. It is instructed that well-off families should give a fixed amount of grain or money for each household member to their needy brothers and sisters, so they can also buy new clothes for their children, prepare good food, and enjoy the celebration of Eid like everyone else.
All these traditions ensure that Eid becomes a day of happiness for the whole society. It becomes a message of renewal and hope for all people.
Eid is a day of meaningful celebration rather than simply of joy and play. Eid should be celebrated with dignity and good conduct. On the day of Eid, the greatness of God is declared. That is why Eid should be spent in a way that pleases God. As people greet each other on Eid, it is important that only such words be uttered that express love and goodwill towards others. Eid should be a time of both spiritual reflection and shared humanity.
In India, it is traditional to eat sewiyan (sweet vermicelli) on Eid al-Fitr. People exchange sweets and sweet dishes with each other. That is why, in this region, Eid al-Fitr is called Meethi Eid (Sweet Eid). In Egypt, it is known as ‘Eid al-Kiswa (Eid of Clothing). During the time of the Fatimid Caliphs in Egypt, it became a custom to distribute clothes to the poor on Eid al-Fitr. Consequently, Eid al-Fitr became known as ‘Eid al-Kiswa.
Similarly, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated in a special way in every Muslim country. Gérard de Nerval, a French traveler, visited Turkey in the mid-19th century during Sultan Abdul Majid’s reign. He was in Istanbul on the day of Eid and described in detail how it was celebrated there.
He wrote that in every home in Istanbul, special meals and sweet dishes were prepared. Anyone could enter any home and be welcomed to eat, as meals were ready at all times. Rich or poor, every Muslim treated guests with joy and respect, within their capacity.
Festivals are found in every nation and culture. The purpose of any festival is collective happiness. Festivals are meant to increase mutual love and strengthen human relationships.
This is also the purpose of Eid al-Fitr. However, Eid al-Fitr is a meaningful celebration. It should be celebrated in a way that no one is harmed. On the day of Eid, everyone should try to give others a gift of happiness. Eid al-Fitr should be celebrated in a way that encourages harmony. Eid is the one celebration that truly becomes a day of joy for all.
All India Radio, New Delhi, 5 April 1992.
