As a child, Eid-ul-Fitr was unquestionably the best day of the year. We would spend the first half of our Eid in Colombo – starting with praying the Eid prayer at the mosque, followed by traditional Sri Lankan breakfast at home and then do a round of visiting our extended family members, starting with my vapumma (my paternal grandma) and cousins. 

By the time we came home for lunch, everyone was too full for the biryani (having snacked at all houses), but we managed to have some anyway, because we had a 1.5-hour drive to make right after to my hometown. This was my favorite part of the day – visiting my ummumma (my maternal grandma) at her house in my hometown, where all my cousins and I spent the entire day just chatting and entertaining visitors. The Eid table was full, but immaculate. 

As I grew older, and my parents also aged, Eid became less celebratory. Aging adults seem to want to “relax” on Eid, something that teenagers find very boring. Occasionally, I would wonder why we didn’t have as much fun as we did during the Christmas season, with all the holidays [that all ethnic communities would be able to enjoy], and the presents that my Christian friends would exchange with their families. 

What I didn’t initially understand was that a festival didn’t have to be commercialized for people to have a day of joy and meaning, whilst maintaining their spiritual connection with God. The truth was that the meaningfulness and celebratory air of Eid-ul-Fitr lies in observing the Islamic rituals and the legacy that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) left behind in respect of it. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Be intentional about celebrating Eid-al-Fitr.

Eid-al-Fitr, which directly translates to “the festival of the breaking of the fast,” is a day that comes after a month of having observed the fast for the sake of Allah. Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina during two days which they were celebrating. The Prophetﷺ said, “What are these two days?” They said, “We would celebrate these two days in the time of ignorance.” The Prophetﷺ said, “Verily, Allah has replaced these two days with two better days: Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.” [Sunan Abi Dāwūd 1134] 

In light of this hadith, we know that Allah has blessed us with a day wherein we celebrate in consequence of the time we have spent in connecting with Him. It’s important to remember that it was intended to be a day of festivities, and to enjoy and celebrate on this day.

2. Remember to keep up the good work of Ramadan.

A general reminder that we all need on Eid is that everything we do, must be consistent with 30 days of fasting, and not completely against it. It is, therefore, still important that we are conscious of committing sins such as backbiting, gossiping, and slandering. It is also equally important that we are proactive in continuing the good deeds we managed to practice in Ramadan, like starting the day with Tahajjud, reciting some Quran, and mentioning the morning adhkar. Being patient also comes in handy on Eid, because family members can really get in each other’s way (if you know, you know). 

3. Recite Takbeer.

If you asked me whether Eid morning had a sound to it, I’d say it would be a cumulation of birds chirping, light drizzle on the windows and the sound of Takbeer. In Sri Lanka, the radios are switched on in some houses, where the relevant station has the Takbeer playing. If you go to the mosques, it’s echoing off the walls as it’s recited into the mic, with people following in chorus. In some houses, we hear our mothers slowly humming the takbeer as they prepare breakfast. 

Takbeer is recited on the night of Eid-ul-Fitr, for up to three days after. It’s a sunnah to keep your tongue moist with the words “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa-ilaha-illalla-hu-wallahu-akbar. Allahu Akbar wa-lillahil-hamdh,” which translates to “God is Great, God is Great, God is Great. There is no God but Allah, and God is Great. God is Great, and all praise is due unto Him.” If you reflect on this dua, you realize how simple and yet encompassing this form of dhikr is. 

4. Perform Ghusl, and wear your best clothes.

The ghusl (bath) is very significant in Islam on various occasions, and a true mark of Islam’s emphasis on cleanliness. Eid morning is one of those occasions. Like all rituals, there is a way to perform the Ghusl, but it is also seen as a simple bath that incorporates wudhu into it. Thereafter, we are advised to wear our ‘best’ clothes. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to be new clothes, but if they are, it’s considered better. 

5. Pray the Eid prayer.

This is perhaps, the most defining aspect of Eid – and perhaps what we are most familiar with.  It is advised that the Eid prayer is prayed in congregation – either in the mosque or at home. For Sri Lankan women, praying in the mosque was always seen as a rare opportunity (unfortunately) – and Eid was one of those days where the mosques were open to women in the morning hours. 

The Eid prayer consists of two rakats. It’s distinguishable from other voluntary prayers (aside from the intention being to pray the Sunnah of Eid-ul-Fitr prayer) by the number of takbeers said prior to reciting the Surah Al-Fathiha. In the first rakat, seven takbeers are said, and in between each rakat the words “Subhanallahi Walhamdulillah, Walailaha Illallahu, Wallahu-akbar,” is recited. This translates to “Glory is to Allah, and All praises and thanks are due to Allah. There is no God but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.” After Surah Al-Fathiha, Suratul A’la is recited. In the second rakat, five takbeers are said, while Surah Ghashiyah is recited after Al-Fathiha.

It would be useful to reflect on the meaning of these surahs prior to going to the mosque, to understand as the Imam recites them. I find it so significant that it’s these two surahs that are regularly recited in the Eid prayer. Both have many lessons to take from the verses, but my favourite lines are in Surah A’la (verses 14-16) where God says: “Indeed, he has succeeded, whoever who endeavours to be purified. And he who mentions the name of his Lord and performs the prayer. Rather, you all give preference to the life of this world, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring.”

It is also sunnah to listen to the Khutbah after the Eid prayer (if you’re praying in congregation).  Thereafter, to take a different route back home than the one you took to the mosque. 

6. Spend time with family and friends.

What I love about witnessing Eid in different countries is that each culture and community has its own way of gathering on Eid. Some communities have families that get together for a meal on Eid so everyone can see each other at once. Some (possibly families that live close to each other) go on visits to each of their houses. And others spend Eid in their hometowns, even if they usually live away in the city. 

A beautiful practice witnessed on these visits is the decorated Eid tables – a mix of bite sized savouries and sweets (both traditional and western dishes) spread out and a drink (iced coffee or almond milk in our houses, usually) to accompany it. 

Moreover, gift-giving on these visits is also a practice in some cultures. Especially Eid money, by which kids get significantly wealthier than they have been all year. Jokes aside, however, charity on Eid is a beautiful practice. 

But not all of us have the luxury of being with our families and friends on this day. I do feel though that every effort counts – even if it is to go see a Muslim relative or friend you haven’t seen in a while, give salam and say “Taqabbalallahu wa minna wa minkum” (i.e. May Allah accept from you and me). 

Above all, we should be grateful and remember our brothers and sisters in Palestine, and everywhere else in the world where Muslims are struggling. This would include those that have lost a loved one in Ramadan and may not be having the Eid that you will be having.

Every one of us has (if not every year, then at some point in our lives) witnessed the joyful air of Eid-ul-Fitr. To me, its beauty lies in how Muslims choose to worship God on this day in a special way, and in the varying ways we gather as a community. We just have to understand and be honored that our festivals are uniquely celebrated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Amani Raji graduated from the University of London with her BA in Law. She has experience working in arbitration as well as heading public relations. She is currently studying to become a lawyer. Moreover, Amani is very passionate about women’s rights and inspiring change. The discrimination faced by Sri Lankan Muslim women has been instrumental in her pursuit of a career in law.

The post Celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr: a Revival of the Sunnah appeared first on World Hijab Day.

I had a covid infection a few months ago. The symptoms were mild during the peak infection period, but what followed were long days of fatigue and drag across my chores. Outside of work, I am the type of person who enjoys pursuing hobbies and these activities fuel my passion for life. This time, I noticed that I couldn’t keep my eyes open even during work hours, that cooking and cleaning were burdensome and that keeping up with a toddler was challenging.

There were courses I signed up for, so many collaborations I wanted to do, but I simply didn’t have the energy to do much of anything. All I want to do now is finish my work hours, see if I can just cook something to feed the family and myself and go to bed. I don’t have the energy to devote extra hours to preparing a healthy meal.

I had another flu the week before Eid and it was so bad that I was convinced it was covid. I did a self-test, which came back negative, and went to the doctor. It was negative once more; it was just the flu!! The flu caused considerable muscle pain, fever, coughing fits, as well as a blocked nose that left me gasping for air at night. Probably the worst flu I’ve ever had after childhood.

The Eid festival came and went. I couldn’t even get out of bed so my Eid plans went right out the window. As a couple, we spent Eid in Belgium alone, without our families, but we made sure to celebrate in our own way by dressing up, preparing meals and home decor, keeping the house looking fresh and shiny; we might even go out or invite friends over.

This Eid, on the other hand, was unusual. I couldn’t make myself feel any better by doing anything I normally enjoyed on Eid. As I lay in bed, staring into space, sadness hit me hard in the face.

I was wading through the sea of emotions I was experiencing and for the first time I felt, for all the chronically ill people who couldn’t move to celebrate. In other words, any Eid is the same as the day before for the people who are alone and sick, for  the people who are too old and sick to celebrate it and for those away from family. How lonely and burdensome all these people must have felt all those Eids, when my healthy self was celebrating it.

Another thought had emerged even though I subconsciously was fighting it all along: it wasn’t just my fatigue that kept me from moving; it was rather, the shadow of loss. I had lost my plans and I had lost any accomplishment that could have been.

But Allah swt, the Greatest Planner, has His plans. It sometimes isn’t what we expect and it’s painful to let go of our own plans, to accept His will when it doesn’t show the light upon us as yet. However, we have to keep going with the flow because He designed everything in this world in pairs of opposites: day and night, heat and cold, happiness and sadness, health and sickness, etc.

You can be sad that it’s over, happy that it happened and cautious that something else will come up or change.

This trust in His system and in Him is learned through the darkest days, through the deep submission that comes after the stages of deep loneliness and sadness, that sense of helplessness, powerlessness and loss. When you hit rock bottom, your soul remembers only one thing: Submission to His Lord, “Ya’ Allah,” it says.

What comes naturally to us in happier and lighter moments is our Gratitude to our Creator, and what comes naturally to us in heavier moments is true Submission, an understanding through helplessness that you are not in control and in charge, that someone else is, that you weren’t the one planning and manifesting, it was always someone else, that no matter how dark it appears, the dawn will come with His will,  and no matter how beautiful or long the day is, this will end with His will.

About the Author

Sana Khan is a Motivational Speaker, Writer and Coach. Moreover, Khan has attained her engineering degree from Shobhit Institute of Engineering and Technology (now a Deemed University) and Dr. APJ Abdul Kamal University (former UPTU) in India. She has an MA in International Business from EAE Business School in Barcelona Spain and UPC Catalunya, Spain. Khan has recently written a motivational eBook entitled, “Dreamcatcher Framework.” She has also co-authored a spiritual anthology called, “Pause and Pen.” When she is not reading or writing, she prefers to nature-walk or sip coffee with her husband and son in Belgium.

Website: www.talkwithsana.com

YouTube and Facebook @TalkwithSana

Instagram @Sanakrblogs

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