Eid-ul-Fitr, its Traditions & The Steps forward to Allah
This is legitimate because after having fasted during the month of Ramadan for the Pleasure of Allah, our Creator, He offers us – to us, Muslims – this gift. It is a gift He gave us with the advent of His beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and the command to fast the month of Ramadan.
All of us, members of the Ummah of
the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (pbuh) – all those who sacrificed themselves
in fasting and others, who were unable to fast (because of illness, or any
legitimate impediment to eyes of Allah), who devoted themselves fully in all
forms of acts of devotion in these blessed days, then this Eid is legitimate
for us. This day comes after a month of spirituality as advised through the
Hadiths of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Therefore, it is appropriate to conclude
these blessed days by reproducing the practices of our perfect model (pbuh), he
who imbued himself with the divine essence thanks to his devotions and prayers
during the blessed months of Ramadan throughout his life.
Today is Eid-ul-Fitr, a
unique day for believers who sacrificed themselves for the pleasure of Allah,
devoting much of their time in various forms of acts of worship during this
month sacred. And Allah loves so much these believers who gave their all in
acts of worship but above all who fasted throughout the blessed month of Ramadan.
From dawn until sunset, the fasters stayed away from food and from their wives
(for men) and husbands (for women). They performed the Taraweeh prayers
and the Witr in the evening, then woke up very early in the morning for
their Tahajjud prayers and to eat the blessed meal, i.e. the Sehri. But
the day after Ramadan, Allah wants us to eat before leaving the house in the
morning. On this day we celebrate His name with Takbir when we read Salat.
Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Successful is he
who purifies himself and remembers the name of his Lord and performs prayer.”
(Al-A’la 87:15-16).
On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr,
the act of purifying oneself includes paying Sadaqatul-Fitr [or Zakat-ul-Fitr]
to the poor, walking towards the Mosque or Eid Gah for the prayer of Eid
with the Takbir, and to pray in congregation, as a single brotherhood of
believers.
As the verse indicates, it is
obligatory to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before the Eid prayer, each person
according to their financial means. And it is the prescription of the Holy
Prophet (pbuh) to do so. It is narrated from Abu Dawud that the Holy Prophet
(pbuh) said: “Zakat-ul-Fitr purifies the fasting person from his weaknesses
during fasting, and it is also a means of nourishment for the poor. Whoever
pays it before the Salat of Eid will have his Zakat-ul-Fitr accepted.” (Abu Dawud)
Therefore, it is obligatory for one
who has the Nisaab of Rs. 30,000 in cash or any other property (even
non-taxable by Zakat) to pay Rs. 100 [as Zakat-ul-Fitr]. It is also
obligatory for him to pay Sadaqatul-Fitr on behalf of his wife and
children who are under his responsibility. In short, Rs. 100 for him, as well
as, for each person under his responsibility. Then he gives this money to a
poor person [among the Muslim believers of the community] in his locality
before the Salat of Eid so that they too are able to prepare for the Eid
festival. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) speaks of the objective of Sadaqatul-Fitr:
“To provide the poor with something so that they can get through this day
without the need to beg.” (Dar Qutni).
So, one should grant this Zakat-ul-Fitr
so that a poor person does not feel the need to beg on Eid. Although
several narrations of donations of dates, wheat etc. are mentioned, but to
relieve the poor there is no better way than to give them the value of these
items mentioned in the Hadiths in cash: Rs. 100 [per person]. Imagine if the
poor person would receive a batch of dates like Sadaqatul-Fitr, or tens
of kilos, will this alleviate his poverty?
No! Because he is the only one who
knows what he should buy so that he can spend Eid day happily. So, give him the
sum of Rs. 100 in cash. This way, he will be able to buy what he needs. And
this is why we must give Sadaqatul-Fitr well before the Salat of Eid. So
that the poor can make preparations for Eid. So, pay the sum of Rs. 100 several
days before Eid and next year at the start of Ramadan.
After Eid it’s about maintaining
your good habits and not returning to your old bad practices. On the contrary,
now it is easier to be regular with the five daily Salat since our system is
adapted to the rhythm of the schedules. Tahajjud, Ishraaq, Chaast and Awwabeen
(voluntary prayers) are ways to stay close to Allah.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) relates
that Allah said: “My servant never ceases to draw closer to Me through
supererogatory works, until I love him. And when I love him, I am the hearing
by which he hears, the sight by which he sees, the hand by which he takes and
the foot by which he walks. If he asks anything of Me, I give it to him and if
he seeks refuge with Me, I grant him refuge. I do not hesitate about anything
as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates
death and I hate hurting him.” (Bukhari)
As it was possible to stay away
from sins during Ramadan, it is therefore possible to continue this throughout
the year. Post-Ramadan begins with the day of Eid, so let’s remain joyful and
obedient to the commandments of Allah and His Prophet (pbuh)! Insha-Allah.
EID MUBARAK.