Today is first of Shawwal, the day of Eid Fetr or the Feast ending the month long fasting of Ramadhan. The soul and life of the faithful is filled with the fragrance of spirituality and sincerity. The inhabitants on the earth thanks to a whole month of worship and prayer are celebrating with hopes pinned on God’s rewards. On this auspicious occasion we offer our congratulations to all Muslims of the world. Today is the day of prayer and joy of the people who have got close to God. From the early hours of Eid Fetr the pleasant voice of the Moazzen who invites the faithful to the Eid Prayer fills up the city’s atmosphere. The faithful glorifying God Almighty for His bounties set out towards the mosque or the Mosallas for the congregational Eid prayers. They seek divine mercy and forgiveness and recite:
“O My Lord I have come to You with all my heart in the hope of benefiting from Your mercy. O My God today is one of the days of celebrations for Prophet Mohammad and his blessed progeny. O my Great God, forgive my grave."
On Eid Fetr the cry of Takbir of the Greatness of God as is expressed with the recitation of the words Allaho-Akbar softens the soul and gives new hope to the life of the faithful. On the eve of the Eid, the majestic cry of Allaho Akbar echoes from the mosques at the sighting of the crescent. Early the next morning the Muslims gather for the prayer as thanksgiving to the One and Only Creator for his spiritual blessings of Ramadhan. The Eid Prayer is manifestation of Islamic solidarity. It is indication of the human beings humbleness in the presence of the Omnipresent Lord, to Whom all bow and prostrate. In some Islamic states the sound of drums and trumpets at the sighting of the crescent creates a wave of happiness. The people in these countries prepare themselves in advance for the Eid celebration. They wear new clothes on Eid and prepare special types of foods. Indonesia with its population of 220 million people, of whom 85 percent are Muslims, is supposedly the largest Muslim country, although the Muslims in India number more. During Eid Fetr days the train and bus stations are extremely crowded with people planning travel to meet their relatives. The people of Afghanistan who for years have been under the clutches of oppression enforced by aggressors hold Eid prayer in their own unique manner and then visit relatives. In Lebanon the drummers who announce the advent of Eid go from house to house to collect gifts.
On Eid Fetr there is life everywhere and the pure hearts under the blessing of Ramadhan are hopeful of divine mercy. In Bahrain after the end of blessed Ramadhan, the drummers accompanied by boys walk on streets and people give them Eidi and cookies. Bahrainis celebrate Eid for three days. It is also customary for Bahrainis to visit the tombs of great Islamic scholars after the Eid prayer.
According to a Hadith, God Almighty says to angels on Eid Fetr: “Do you know what is the reward of those who have fulfilled their duties? The angels say: O My Lord their reward is in Your hand. God Almighty says: You angels be witness that on this day I forgive My servants. “
Praying with sincerity, sympathizing with the deprived, giving to the oppressed their rights, and being kind towards relatives bring internal joy and happiness for mankind. A glance at religious teachings indicates that joy and happiness are part of faith. Seeking the shelter of God Almighty, Who is the source of all existence, creates a special joy in hearts. Thus, happiness is not limited only to transient material values. Refraining from sins is a beautiful experience and this is the real meaning of Eid. A saying from Imam Ali (AS), reads: the day you have not committed any sin is a day of Eid for you.
Eid Fetr is therefore the day of salvation and gladness but we should not neglect fellow humans and their problems. One of the obligatory acts of Eid Fetr is to give Zakat Fetrey or a specific amount to the poor before the start of the prayer so as to cleanse oneself of all impurities. By this deed, a person insures his life and soul and keeps himself away from calamities. Zakat Fetreh means growth, cleansing and goodness. Therefore, like prayer it is a factor responsible for boosting the morale, purifying life and strengthening brotherly relations in society.
Although Eid Fetr marks the end of a month of fasting, it also ushers in a march in the right direction for the next eleven months till Ramadhan comes again with more divine bounties. Once again we congratulate the auspicious Eid Fetr to all Muslims of the world, and goodbye until we meet again tomorrow for the second and concluding part of this special programme.
“O My Lord I have come to You with all my heart in the hope of benefiting from Your mercy. O My God today is one of the days of celebrations for Prophet Mohammad and his blessed progeny. O my Great God, forgive my grave."
On Eid Fetr the cry of Takbir of the Greatness of God as is expressed with the recitation of the words Allaho-Akbar softens the soul and gives new hope to the life of the faithful. On the eve of the Eid, the majestic cry of Allaho Akbar echoes from the mosques at the sighting of the crescent. Early the next morning the Muslims gather for the prayer as thanksgiving to the One and Only Creator for his spiritual blessings of Ramadhan. The Eid Prayer is manifestation of Islamic solidarity. It is indication of the human beings humbleness in the presence of the Omnipresent Lord, to Whom all bow and prostrate. In some Islamic states the sound of drums and trumpets at the sighting of the crescent creates a wave of happiness. The people in these countries prepare themselves in advance for the Eid celebration. They wear new clothes on Eid and prepare special types of foods. Indonesia with its population of 220 million people, of whom 85 percent are Muslims, is supposedly the largest Muslim country, although the Muslims in India number more. During Eid Fetr days the train and bus stations are extremely crowded with people planning travel to meet their relatives. The people of Afghanistan who for years have been under the clutches of oppression enforced by aggressors hold Eid prayer in their own unique manner and then visit relatives. In Lebanon the drummers who announce the advent of Eid go from house to house to collect gifts.
On Eid Fetr there is life everywhere and the pure hearts under the blessing of Ramadhan are hopeful of divine mercy. In Bahrain after the end of blessed Ramadhan, the drummers accompanied by boys walk on streets and people give them Eidi and cookies. Bahrainis celebrate Eid for three days. It is also customary for Bahrainis to visit the tombs of great Islamic scholars after the Eid prayer.
According to a Hadith, God Almighty says to angels on Eid Fetr: “Do you know what is the reward of those who have fulfilled their duties? The angels say: O My Lord their reward is in Your hand. God Almighty says: You angels be witness that on this day I forgive My servants. “
Praying with sincerity, sympathizing with the deprived, giving to the oppressed their rights, and being kind towards relatives bring internal joy and happiness for mankind. A glance at religious teachings indicates that joy and happiness are part of faith. Seeking the shelter of God Almighty, Who is the source of all existence, creates a special joy in hearts. Thus, happiness is not limited only to transient material values. Refraining from sins is a beautiful experience and this is the real meaning of Eid. A saying from Imam Ali (AS), reads: the day you have not committed any sin is a day of Eid for you.
Eid Fetr is therefore the day of salvation and gladness but we should not neglect fellow humans and their problems. One of the obligatory acts of Eid Fetr is to give Zakat Fetrey or a specific amount to the poor before the start of the prayer so as to cleanse oneself of all impurities. By this deed, a person insures his life and soul and keeps himself away from calamities. Zakat Fetreh means growth, cleansing and goodness. Therefore, like prayer it is a factor responsible for boosting the morale, purifying life and strengthening brotherly relations in society.
Although Eid Fetr marks the end of a month of fasting, it also ushers in a march in the right direction for the next eleven months till Ramadhan comes again with more divine bounties. Once again we congratulate the auspicious Eid Fetr to all Muslims of the world, and goodbye until we meet again tomorrow for the second and concluding part of this special programme.
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