Eid-ul-Fitr- Campaign Against Hunger

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Eid-ul-Fitr is the most important Islamic festival even though the day does not mark any historical event or episode. The reason-It offers the believers an occasion to offer thanks to Allah for having given them the strength and the will to observe fast during Ramadan. Imam Hazrat Ali ibne Abi Talib while delivering a sermon on Eid-Ul-Fitr highlighted its significance in these words:

"O people! Verily this day of yours is the day when the righteous are awarded and the wretched are losers. It is a day which is similar to the one on which you shall be standing (before your Lord). Therefore, when you come out of your homes to go to places of your prayer, remind yourselves about the day when you (your souls) shall come out of your bodies to go to your Lord. When you stand on places of your prayer, remind yourselves of your standing in presence of your Lord (on the day of Judgment). And when you return to your homes (after prayer), remind yourselves about your returning to your homes in Paradise.

      O Servants of Allah! Verily the minimum reward for those men and women who fasted (during Ramadan), is an Angel, who calls out to them on the last day of the month of Ramadan (saying): O Servants of Allah! Rejoice the Glad Tiding that all your previous sins have been forgiven. Therefore, watch out in those things which serve as your re-creation (on this day and days to follow)”. 

Likewise Imam Reda described Eid-Ul-Fitr as “a day of unity. Hence, it is a day to give thanks and reaffirm faith in His(Allah) favors and praise Him. Eid day is the first day when eating and drinking is once again permitted during daylight hours. So, for the seekers of Truth, Eid-Ul- Fitr is the first day of the year”.

Imam Muhammad Baqar while speaking about Eid-Ul-Fitr also mentioned the sadness that it also accompanies. Being aware of Eid falling on the 10^th day of Imam Ali’s martyrdom, Imam used to remind people about the sadness resulted from the usurpation of the rights of the Ahle-Bait and the gross violation of human rights.

His son Imam Jafar Al Sadiq explained the significance of festival in these words  “Fasts remain suspended between the earth and the heavens until Fitra is executed”. The emphasis on Fitra is to ensure that both have and have-nots celebrate Eid with same joy, fervor and equality. Imam through his golden words simply reminded the people that the rejoicing on Eid is to obey and thank Allah and serves humanity, the two most important principles of Islam defined by the Prophet.

The awaited Imam Al Mahdi also expresses similar views in Dua-E- Nudbah (Supplication of Lamentation).He says “The message of Eid Ul-Fitr is that no Muslim remains hungry on this day. It is a day that the rich and the poor enjoy happiness of the day, as the well-off give Fitra to the less well off. The Fitra ensures acceptance of the fast”. This prayer is known as supplication of lamentation as the Hidden Imam had in his mind the hunger and thirst of Imam Hussain and his companions on 10^th Muharram at Karbala when he recited the Dua.

From the sayings of infallible Imams, it is clear that Eid is not just feasting after a month long Ramadan fasting. Rather, it is an occasion to offer thanks giving prayers by believers in large congregations in open space, standing shoulder to shoulder, to exhibit the equality and equity- an inherent and essential feature of a society based on Islamic tenets. The most significant aspect of the day lies in the fact that Eid expects every Muslim to give the needy food at the rate of the prescribed weight per every member of his household, including servants and guests who were sheltered under his roof the preceding evening.

Eid also affords Muslims an opportunity of spiritual stock-taking by pondering over the strength of his will or the weakness of his character felt by him during Ramadan. Eid is however the day for those persons who disobeyed Allah as an end to the month-long pangs of conscience, inner struggle and continuous realization of the feebleness of their character. Eid –Ul-Fitr liberates them from all sorts of arguments and excuses against fasting.(References available on request)