Essence of Eidul Fitr
By Jauhar Ali
Gratefulness to God is always rewarded. Eidul Fitr is a reward to the Muslim ummah for striving to temper their souls through the rigours of self-denial and offering of special prayers during the holy month of Ramazan in humble thankfulness and sincere gratitude for the countless mercies, blessings and favours of our Creator which we enjoy in our mundane life.
God has created man as the best of all His creations and exalted him to the noble and dignified position of being His deputy on earth. In His infinite kindness and mercy He loves His subjects more than parents love their offsprings. It is only proper, therefore, that man as Allah's vicegerent on earth bases the lofty mission of his life on the worship and thankfulness to God for His endless bounties, grace and favours bestowed on him right from his cradle to the grave.
According to the Holy Quran Allah says, "I have created only jinn and man, that they may serve and worship Me." (Quran, 51:56). On another occasion Allah addresses man in these words: "It is He who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and love, that you may give thanks to Him" (Quran, 16:78).
The above verses indicate that the entire community of human beings is enjoined and obligated to worship God and to be thankful to Him. Thankfulness is one of the four qualities essential for perfection of belief in Islam. The other three being truthfulness, modesty and good behaviour. Eidul Fitr, observed after the end of the month of Ramazan, on the first of lunar month Shawwal every year, is a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord of the universe for giving the strength for having successfully fulfilled the test of faith Divinely ordained.
Beyond feasting and festivities, Eidul Fitr is also an ibadah (worship). Ibadah is the most vital duty of man towards his Maker and includes all actions which are performed in obedience to and for the pleasure of Allah. The concept of ibadah (worship) in Islam is all too comprehensive and encompasses the whole spectrum of human conduct covering both fulfilling obligations to Allah (Huquq-al-Ibad) and obligations towards fellow-beings (Huquq-al'Ibad). Fulfilment of both Huquq Allah and Huquq-al-'Ibad must be integrated to attain success as true adherents of Allah.
The Lord of the universe did not leave man unguided in treading on to the path leading to the attainment of the lofty mission of his life. The world is a place of trial and man is to be judged on the basis of the life he lives in it. Everything in the world is for man but man himself is for his Lord and his mission in life is to fulfil the will of God. For his guidance, Allah raised many Messengers from amongst the descendants of Adam with Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) embodying the finality of prophethood and Islam marking the perfection of Divine commandments.
Fundamentally all the Prophets of God based their teachings on the concept of ibadah which helps to develop a close relationship between an individual and his Lord. All good deeds are included in ibadah and consistent observance of ibadah creates taqwa (Godliness) which consists of complete submission to the will of God. The Prophets of God succeeded in making people observe their duty to God and to their fellow beings through the force of taqwa.
Taqwa is the vital driving force in developing the inner strength of man. The Prophets of God tried to nourish and nurture the quality of taqwa among human beings through various forms of ibadah and through emphasis on their social obligations.
However, worship on its own is not enough; it must be accompanied by good deeds denoting complete submission to the will and pleasure of Allah. Through acts of devotion one fulfils obligations to Allah and through good deeds to men one fulfils his obligations towards his fellow beings.
Those who are included in the ummah of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him) have been enjoined among other ibadah, to say prayers five times every day. It has also been made obligatory for Muslims to observe fast during the holy month of Ramazan for it would make them muttaqi (righteous). Quran says: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa" (Qur'an 2: 183). "It is not the meat nor the blood that reaches Allah! It is taqwa that reaches Him" (Qur'an 22:37). The taqwa is an integral part of the doctrine of Islam and should, therefore, be attained by every Muslim.
As a practical and practicable religion Islam has provided a complete code of life for Muslims and all those who care to follow the teachings of Islam through Divine guidance in the shape of Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). Herein lies the well-being of man both in this temporal and eternal life. Blessed are those who are fortunate to be included in the ummah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as beneficiaries of all His kindness and eternal blessings.
As an act of worship (ibadah), fasting in Ramazan aims at promoting taqwa and realization of the real value of deprivation of a thing and inculcating a keener sense of appreciation and gratitude for it. This is the real significance of Eidul Fitr. While celebrating Eid, we must remember the plight of the less privileged, the discarded, the deprived, the homeless and the destitute who find themselves in trying circumstances in different parts of the world. Our hearts must go out to them. Without this we will be wanting in the real spirit of Eid.