Ready For Eid-ul-Fitr?

With Eid ul Fitr just round the corner and the successful culmination of Ramadan fasting, a great sense of excitement and joy rents the air. Homes, streets, parks, malls, mosques and hotels have been spruced up with flowers, plants, perfumes and designer lights for the three-day Eid celebrations.

Thousands of families have been thronging markets across for the past few days: buying new clothes, sweets, greeting cards and gift items for their near and dear ones. Gardens, beach-fronts, amusement parks and other important public places have been cleaned as these places will be bustling with activity during the holidays.

Eid al Fitr, a three-day celebration, is a great institution that embodies Islam’s message of love, peace, unity and security to all. Eid is also a ‘Thanksgiving Day’ because the first thing the faithful Muslims do is to assemble in a brotherly and happy environment for Eid prayers to offer their gratitude to Allah (SWT) for the countless blessings that they enjoy.

Eid brings people together, builds bonds of brotherhood and provides a platform for sharing this happiness with the underprivileged sections of society by way of giving them obligatory charity before proceeding for Eid prayers. The distribution of Fitr (alms) to the poor also constitutes a major part of the Eid activities.

Once the Eid ul Fitr moon is sighted the preparations for the Eid celebrations begin.

Eid ul Fitr prayer is an integral part of Eid, which is worth mentioning. According to the practices of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Eid Prayers are conducted in open grounds under the open sky. All the Muslims visit the prayer grounds in the morning on this day and recite the Takbir “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” (which means Allah is the Greatest) just before the prayers are offered.

Soon after the Eid Prayers, a 'Khutba' (Islamic sermon) is delivered. The person reciting the 'Khutba' leads the prayer and is called the 'Khateeb'.

After the prayer and sermon, there is usually a gathering at the Muslims' houses where all their near and dear ones accompany them in the Eid meals. Muslims wish each other Eid Mubarak (Happy Eid). All the children receive gifts as a token of love from all their relatives as Eid is the day to exchange gifts among each other. 

The entire day is marked with the triumph and happiness spread all around. 

Defining Life takes this apportunity to wish all the Muslims round the world a very blessed Eid ul Fitr.