Islam has bequeathed two festivals for its followers, namely EID UL FITR- Ramazan festival and EID UL AZHA-Haj festival. Both are to be celebrated after some sacrifices, for then, they are valued more.
Muslims in Sri Lanka will be celebreating EID UL FITR during the socond week of June. The festival begins at the first sighting of a new moon in the sky, for the month of Shawwal, which marks the end of Ramadan. EID means recurring happiness or festivity. UL FITR means breaking of fast.
Ramazan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calender, and a time when muslims across the world fast during the hours of daylight. Ramazan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islams. Many muslims attempt to read the Qur'an an at least once during Ramazan period.
Fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-decipline, self-restraint and generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may rarely get to eat well. It is common to have one meal whichone is known as the suhoor, just before sunrise and another known as a ifthar, derectly after sunset. Ramazan is a time to spend with good things and family.
The five fillars of Islam are the five obligation that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam. Carring out these obligations provide's the framework of a Muslim's life, and weaves their everyday activities and their beleifs into a single cloth of religious devotion.
The five fillars of Islam;
1. SHAHADA
To believe there is no God but Allah and the Muhammed is his messenger.
2. SALAAH
To pray five times a.day.
3. ZAKAT
To give alms or charity to benefit the poor and the needy.
4. SAWM
To fast during the month of Ramazan.
5. HAJJ
To make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Macca during the month of ZUL HAJJ.
Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. Many spend long hours praying or reciting the Qur'an. They avoid committing sins and shaow compassion to the less fortunate.
Families and frienda gather at sunset for IFTHAR that break the fast.
The other meal SUHOOR is taken just before down.
The festival is an important time for Muslims to ask for forgiveness.Not taking part in any fasting just before Ramadan would also mean you're in good health and ready for an entire month of abstaining from food and drink for a large part of every day.
As the Ramadan fast only extends from early morning until sunset, there is plenty of opportunity to replenish the body's energy stores at pre-dawn and evening meals.
This prevents the body breaking down muscle to use protein as an emergency source of energy. The fasts of Ramadan can improve a person’s health but - if the correct diet is not followed - could make it worse.
It should contain foods from all the major food groups - fruit and vegetables; bread, cereal and potatoes; meat, fish and alternatives; milk and dairy foods; foods containing fat; foods containing sugar.
Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, should be a wholesome, moderate meal that is filling and provides enough energy for many hours.It is therefore particularly important to include slowly-digesting foods in the Suhoor.
Iftar is the meal which breaks the day’s fast.
This meal could include dates, following the Prophetic traditions. Dates will provide a refreshing burst of much-needed energy. Fruit juices will also have a similar revitalising effect.
The meal should remain a meal and not become a feast. Try to minimise the rich, special dishes that traditionally celebrate the fast and keep to the advice above.
Night precedes the day in the Islamic calender and the month is either 29 or 30 days. The sky is monitored for the new moon on the night of Sha'ban, and if the moon sighted the first day of Ramazan is declared. The same method is adopted to determine the end of Ramazan and the celebration of EID UL FITR.
EID UL FITR the festival of breaking of the fast, is a festive religious holiday which felt on June 15 this year, observed by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramazan, the Islamic holy month of fasting which is SAWM.
EID UL FITR is the firat day of the Islamic month of SHAWWAL. The date on which the festival begins is determined by a confirmed sighting of thr new moon.
To make the beginning of EID, specific prayers are performed at mosques before families and friends host gathering and feasts,but it is also a time of giving thanks to ALLAH for the strength to complete the spiritual fasting.
Celebrations are seen as families and friends visit, with traditional sweet dishes, early morning have bathe and clean themselves and around, wearing new cloths, going to mosque, giving gifts, enjoying etc.
Meaning of EID UL FITR is a time for Muslims to give in charity to those in need and to celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy. Unlike other Islamic holidays, EID UL FITR is not tied to specific historical events but is a general celebration of fellowship with one's local community.
In contrast to the devoted calm of the rest of the Ramadan observance, EID UL FITR is marked by joyful happiness at having been released from religious obligation and forgiven for sins. Once the celebration begins, it may continue for up to three days. This is a time for Muslim families to share their good fortune with others.
Eid-ul-Fitr comes on the first day of Shawaal, (Shawwal is the day of festival and when all sins are forgiven as a reward for fasting and prayers in the month of Ramadan). This is most pure, pious and divine festival of Muslims and was first originated by Prophet Muhammad -“ last Prophet of Islam”. Islam is a religion founded by Muhammad, whose disciples believe in worshiping only one God. (God is called Allah in Arabic) and follows the teachings of the Koran. Islam means “submission to the will of God”. Festival of id-ul-fitra begins with Eid-al-Fitr- which comes on the tenth day of Zil-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim year. The Islamic Eids are unique in each aspect of religion or spiritualty.
History of EID-UL-FITR
According to A hadith (words, actions, or habits of the prophet Muhammad) migration was the important reason behind occurrence of these two pious festivals in Madinah.
By the arrival of Prophet Muhammad at the city of Madinah, Prophet Muhammad observed people celebrating two days (stated clearly and in detail) in which people used to gladden and entertain by gaiety and fun. Witnessing this nature of these sorts of celebrations and gaiety at which people responded that these festivities were occasions of recreation and fun of days of jahilliyah. Regarding point, the Prophet Muhammad mentioned that two days of holidays has been set by Almighty God instead of these festivities for you, those days are far better and divine: “Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha”.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha
For Muslims, both the celebrations of Eid-ul-fitr and Eid-ul-adha are auspicious events of showing thankfulness to Almighty God and recalling him and a means of amusement and merriment. A’ishah reports that on the auspicious day of Eid when her father Abu Bakr Siddiq stopped some young girls from singing, Prophet Muhammad said: Abu Bakr! Every nation has their own ‘id and this is our Eid. During this holy monthy of ramdaan all muslims undergo fasting on daily basis from dawn until the dusk. Fasting in this month is best way for Muslims to develop self-discipline and self-control: By withholding from some of the carnal and basic desires and needs. In this fasting intake of beverages and food is prohibited including sex relations. Muslims believe that fasting in this month is a kind of exercise to develop pure self –esteem which strengthen of being obedient disciple of almighty god regardless of the lust towards sin.
Sick people, travelling, and elderly or women who are nursing and pregnant are allowed to break the fast and cover up the missed days of Ramadan later. If they are incapable to do this later, they must provide food to a needy one for every day they missed. Children are required to start their fasting right from their adolescent days. Even though fasting is advantageous for healthy well-being and it is considered chiefly as a way of spiritual self refinement.
Eid is a wholesome celebration of a remarkable achievement of the individual Muslim in the service of Allah. Muslims only listens to the eternal voice of allah during these days. The festival of Eid is also a thanksgiving day where the muslims assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere to offer their gratitude to Allah for helping them to fulfill their spiritual obligations prior to the Eid. This form of thanksgiving is not confined to spiritual devotion and verbal expressions. It goes far beyond that to manifest itself in a beautiful shape of social humanitarian spirit. Even in the most joyful times the Muslims make a flesh stall of the day by a plural session of worship to Allah. They pray to Allah and glorify His name to demonstrate their remembrance of His favours. When Muslims assemble in the congregation of Eid day, they all whole-heartedly pray for forgiveness and strength in faith. And Allah has assured those who approach Him with sincerity of His mercy and forgiveness.
Donation and food are given to the less fortunate in an act of thanks giving and with the common greeting of EID MUBARAK by hugging to wish others.
