Celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr in a Muslim Society
Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the two great
Islamic festivals, the other being Eid-ul-Azha. Its importance can be
judged from the fact that Almighty Allah Himself ordered the believers
to celebrate it. It is celebrated at the end of the month of fasting
(Ramadan) and has a special significance for the Muslim society. The
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) established the Islamic egalitarian society, free
of all kinds of exploitation and corruption, and maintaining the
sanctity of this society was made the obligation of the believers in
every age. For this purpose, the holy month of fasting (Ramadan) was
selected to help prepare believers for this responsibility. In this
training, during the specific fasting periods believers are required to
refrain from enjoying such things, which are otherwise lawful for them.
The purpose of this exercise is
mentioned in the following verse of the Holy Qur'an: "So that you may
learn restraint." (2:183)
Believers happily obey these
injunctions to please Almighty Allah. Such an exercise has pleasant
effects on the practical life of believers and, in their practical life,
helps them refrain from adopting corrupt ways.
Some jurists maintain that Etekaaf
during the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan is also a part of this
training. In this worship, the believer confines himself in a mosque for
the specified period of time.
The Islamic society, established in the
light of the above teachings was a symbol of the greatness of Almighty
Allah on this earth. Actually it was a gigantic achievement, which
deserved all kinds of rejoicing. That is why Almighty Allah Himself
asked the believers to enjoy this occasion, In this respect the Holy
Qur'an says: "Say in the grace of Allah and in His mercy in that they
should rejoice." (Chapter Yunus, Verse 58)
The celebration of the festival of
Eid-ul-Fitr is itself a model of an egalitarian Islamic society, and the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) best explained this model by his personal example.
It is reported that he used to wear a special dress to grace the
occasion, but it was never a costly one and was always within the reach
of everybody. Once Umar brought a costly dress for him requesting him to
wear it on Eid days and other ceremonial occasions. The Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) immediately returned the dress observing that it did not behave
a believer to wear such a costly dress. The result was that all the
Companions dressed simply on this occasion and consequently this
simplicity became a symbol of the Islamic society.
Today, the provision of shelter, dress
and food are enumerated as the three basic human needs, and equality in
meeting these needs results in all egalitarian society. The Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) already solved the issue of shelter once and for all. He
himself lived in a simple house and expected his Companions to follow
him in this respect. Once when a wealthy Companion built a palatial
building, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) disliked it to such an extent that
he socially boycotted that Companion (Sunnan Abu Daud, vol.4, p. 487).
As a result of the Holy Prophet's stern attitude in this respect, none
of the Companions ever dared to have an edge over his fellow believers
in the matter of construction of buildings. Due to this policy, even the
poor in the society were able to have shelter for themselves.
By dressing simply on this happiest
occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) solved the issue of
the second basic need of the society.
The third basic need of society is
food. Today this need has attained such an importance that it results in
political change in many developing countries. By taking various steps,
the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) ensured that nobody was deprived of this basic
need in the Islamic society. But the situation on festivals is usually
different. On this day, everybody tries to enjoy special dishes, which
normally the poor cannot afford. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) held this
point in view, and he made such an efficient arrangement that not only
was good food guaranteed for all the poor of the society on that day,
but also some of their other needs were met. He ordered the rich
believers to pay a fixed amount of money to the poor on that day or
before that day. This is known as "Sadaqa-ul-Fitr" (Fitra), and its rate
varies according to the price of grain.
A huge amount of money can be collected
under this system which may be sufficient to meet the needs of the poor
on this day, and some of it may be saved to meet their needs in other
difficult times.
Nowadays in many localities, (Sadaqa-ul-Fitr)
is adjusted against the emoluments of the Imams of the local mosques,
and the poor in the Muslim society air deprived of a big chunk of money
which may practically convert the present-day Muslim society into an
egalitarian society.
It may be mentioned here that the
sacred festival of Eid-ul-Fitr has been selected by Almighty Allah
Himself to guide the believers to establish an egalitarian Islamic
society on the face of this earth. The Holy Qur'an was revealed during
the month of Ramadan about which it was marked: "It (the Holy Qur'an) is
better than that which they hoard." (Chapter Yunus, Verse 58)
Hoarding symbolizes a non-egalitarian
society, which encourages the hoarding of essential articles. This is
done to fleece the needy persons. The Holy Qur'an was revealed to
eliminate this evil in all its details, and the month of Ramadan was
selected for this purpose. The successful completion of all the various
steps for establishing such an egalitarian society deserves rejoicing.
Nowadays the Muslims with great pomp
and show celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, but unfortunately its real spirit is
ignored. That is why the present-day Muslim society age, instead of
becoming an egalitarian one, has been divided into haves and have-nots.
This state of affairs has not only robbed the majority of Muslims of
their peace of mind, but has also converted them into the weakest nation
of the world. Such a situation demands that steps be taken to celebrate
this occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr in the same sprit as during the life of the
Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).
In this way Muslims will be able to
convert their present day society into an Islamic egalitarian one. It
will prove beneficial for humanity as it proved so during the early
periods of Islam. |