Eid brings joy, happiness and social ties

Mahfuzur Rahman: Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslim people across the world, brings joy, happiness and it also tightens the social relations among each other.

Like other countries, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated in Bangladesh on Saturday as the moon of Shawal month (an Arabic month) has been sighted in the sky on Friday evening.

President Abdul Hamid Advocate, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the Muslims in Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

It is a celebratory occasion that Muslims mark the end of Ramadan with. It denotes the end of a whole month of spiritual cleansing that the Muslims have gone through and lands on the 1st of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.

In general manner like-minded Muslims across the world celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with lavish feasts and buy new clothes on the occasion and celebrate and enjoy themselves being together.

For all, Eid-ul-Fitr is the day of thanksgivings and joys. It marks the end of the month of fasting, and it is when we feel happy and give thanks to almighty that he enabled us to obey his commands in spheres of lives and livings.

Eid-ul-Fitr has a deep significance to the people’s lives in accordance with the Islamic scholars. It has great impact on people`s minds and souls and has also great influences in our social life. Its spirit is marked by distinguished values and virtues.

According to the Islamic norms and values-Its is thanksgiving and expressing gratitude to Allah, experiencing joy and rejoice, receiving the great reward of obeying almighty, maintaining ties of kinship, taking care of the poor and the needy people in the society.

It signifies the breaking of the fasting period, with the sighting of new crescent moon in the evening, on the last day of Ramadan. On this day, which is considered to be one of the greatest Muslim festivals, the observers of the fast all around the world greet each other in their local language and according to their respective traditions run for decades to decades.

Another important aspect of Eid ul Fitr lies in the distribution of charity on the day. Every Muslim who has some means must pay Zakt-al-Fitr, a sum to be donated for the month of Ramadan, to impoverished Muslims.

It can either be in the form of cash or basic foodstuff, including wheat, barley, dates, raisins etc. It is done to spare a thought to the plight of the poor and is different from the normal Zakat, which is given to purify one’s wealth.

Holy Quran recommends giving donation to the poor on this auspicious day, the best time for which is before going to the mosque in the morning, to offer prayers.

The EId-ul-Fitr is also a festival that fosters brotherhood and interactions, as people visit each other on the days of festivity.

Nears and dears, friends, relatives and beloved ones are greeted and offered- sweets or other delicious foods made in different ways- to each other on the day. Gifts are also given to children and family members and friends mostly in the form of money.

There are lots of spirits of Eid-ul-Fitr in our lives. So let`s always keep this spirit among us. Let`s strengthen our bonds with our creator and with one another living in the society. Let`s be more united and more and more committed to righteousness as individuals, families, and communities where we live in.

risingbd/ DHAKA/ July 18, 2015/ Mahfuz/ Augustin Sujan