By: Mahfooz Ahmad Bakshi
Eid-Al-Fitr is the day of happiness celebrated by the Muslim community after the holy month of Ramadan. Eid brings joy, peace of mind as well as felicity of soul.
There are many reasons that make Eid special but for the past two years nobody could enjoy the day, everyone was isolated in their homes but Alhamdulillah it’s a privilege that Allah (SWT) once again gave us the chance to purify ourselves during the holy days of the holy month of Ramadan as well as it’s a blessing for us that Almighty kept us alive and insha’Allah will keep us alive so that we can observe the Eid al-Fitr. Our shopkeepers are getting blessed, street vendors are getting blessed on this day somehow, and of course, everyone is getting blessed, asides from that the pillars of the nation can be seen happy in the excitement of Eid al-Fitr, buying new clothes, sweets, and so on, everywhere there are smiles and everyone rejoices! The reason why it’s a day of happiness for those who worked hard during Ramadan is that the Eid al-Fitr itself means the day of breaking fast, it’s an Arabic term that means “Festival of Breaking Fast” so people no longer have to stay hungry because they have done it enough in a whole month.
Before two or three days of Eid al-Fitr, people do preparation for it like that of Cleaning homes, grooming themselves by buying the new clothes, purchasing sweets to be eaten in the beginning of that special day, and one the day of Eid, people take bath, they love to put on new clothes, apply perfume, and put a piece of sweets in their mouth after the breakfast people walk towards the nearby Mosques or they hurry towards the important Mosques to offer a special prayer that is prayed only two times in a whole year. After praying and listening to the sermons they spend their time enjoying the day, also to wish their relatives or friends. The smiles of children on that day are extraordinary, parents give some money to their children, etc.
But Eid al-Fitr is not all about the above-mentioned statement only. We have two sides of the same coin, one side is occupied by brightness and the other is occupied by darkness, let me not confuse you any further. On one side of society, there are the rich and on the other, there is the poor who can not buy anything nor can they ask for anything due to their shyness. Such people don’t even have shelters to hide their heads and they hardly manage to eat but sometimes they do not eat for days. If we look deeply into them we can see their tears and sweat usually gets mixed up. Sleeping on the roads and working the whole day during the terrible and grave temperature is their daily routine. Eid can make them face embarrassment due to their old torn garments and pairs of shoes that don’t even match. We have Nomadic people, rag pickers like people who need our help and
The most beautiful thing about Eid al-Fitr is that It conveniences rich people to help the poor ones by distributing money in a special format and that is a form of almsgiving also called “Zakat” and the best fact feature of it is that “It should be given by one hand and the other hand should not be aware of it” which means it ensures privacy, respect. Hence none can face embarrassment.
So we can say that Eid al-Fitr is the day of charity, love, respect, and brotherhood which ceases the growth of injustice, hate, and exposure plus humiliation.
In the contemporary world we record first before giving whatever to the needy which is a shame, and Insults to mankind, giving while exposing innocent humans is unacceptable, denied by good character as well as the whole of humanity. But there exists a day that gives us the practice of developing the component of keeping secrets under the wraps. It’s a privilege that we are able to give “Zakat ”. It’s the best way of earning good deeds and gaining Heaven. Indeed it’s the way by which we can enable poor people to celebrate the day. We have to pay it before the beginning of the Eid prayer Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the people to pay Zakat al Fitr before going to the Eid prayer. (Hadith, Bukhari), we can pay it after the prayer but it would be good if paid before the beginning of the prayer.
To pay for this you must find the poor in your area, then in your relationship, the objective is that it should reach those who deserve it. And it must be paid by every member of the family.
There should be no one who can’t eat, drink and we’ll dress him/herself on the day of almsgiving giving. I’m sure that it can be possible if individuals follow what the Quran says. In case if you have forgotten and are thinking that donating or “Zakat” is optional let me remind you that it’s mandatory for every Muslim to make a donation if you are able to do so. It’s not and never will be optional in fact it’s one of the pillars of Islam.
Allah says if you come just one step close to me, then I will come 10 steps close to you, it doesn’t mean that you have to walk or go anywhere to find the Almighty but you can do it by donating to the name of Allah
Try to vanish the starvation of the poor and Allah will vanish the starvation of yourself and will over bless you.
Moreover, the misunderstanding is that most the people think Eid is the day of visiting different places, spending money, eating, and indulging in many activities hopefully I think they have understood the value of Eid and I hope they have understood what should be done before the day and before the Eid prayer as well as after that Eid prayer. Bring smiles to the faces that always stay sad. In conclusion, I want to request all of you to please forget and forgive people you fight with, hug them, and wish them well.
And do not hesitate in donating, and donate without showcasing, without uploading, donate in the name of the Almighty.
Make this day pleasant for everyone.
“By giving away you are actually increasing what you have”
The author is a 12th class student at Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School, Duderhama, Ganderbal. He can be mailed at bakshimahfooz@gmail.com
