One of the two main Muslim festivals, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast every day from early sunrise until dusk. In the morning, there is a sizable prayer service for the entire community, which is followed by food and conversations with loved ones. To guarantee that everyone can take part in the celebrations, an obligatory charity known as Zakat al-Fitr is gathered before to the prayer and given to the underprivileged. The Arabic name for the celebration, though it is known by many different names in various languages, is Eid al-Fitr.
For Muslims, Eid al-Fitr has great spiritual significance. It is an opportunity to consider the teachings that might be applied to the month of Ramadan, which is devoted to prayer, fasting, and self-control. Ramadan fasting is more than just giving up food and liquids; it’s a spiritual quest to achieve Taqwa, or God-consciousness, and soul purification.
The significance of Ramadan fasting is emphasized by the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185): “The Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadan, providing clear guidelines and standards for everyone to follow. Therefore, whomever sees the month’s new moon should fast.”
In the similar way the significance of celebrating Eid has been mentioned in Quraan in Surah Al-A’raf (7:31): “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.”
Furthermore, the Hadith literature contains numerous references to the importance of Eid al-Fitr. A well-known Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik states: “The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates.”
Now, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will be celebrating Eid, (Insha Allah). We must introspect ourselves whether the predetermined objectives of the fast have been achieved or not?
An Urdu poet, Gulzar, has mentioned in a couplet that is very relevant here to mention:
Tum chalejao to hum yehsochenge
Hum ne kiyakhoya , Hum ne kiyapaya
There are two important parameters to be evaluated to determine whether the goals of fasting have been achieved or not.
- Attainment of Taqwah (2) Empowerment of the needy and poor people of society to create balance.
Here I will restrict myself to the evaluation of the second parameter only because the first parameter is related to the individuals, whereas the second addresses the societal impact.
Islam is a religion of peace, and it instructs us to do everything within our power to ensure that peace rules our society. It offers a way to address issues that the impoverished experience because of their lack of resources and education, which prevent this peace.
One of the objectives that Allah has established for Zakat and charity is the eradication of poverty and the amelioration of the impoverished. The gap between the rich and the poor can be narrowed and the impoverished in society are allowed to contribute to society through zakat and philanthropy.
It has become mandatory for all wealthy and capable members of society to set aside a specific sum from their riches, determined by Allah, and give it to the underprivileged. Allah is more aware of human nature than anyone else. They might keep their riches, lend them to individuals at interest, and take advantage of their troubles. Islam teaches the exact opposite; it has made it mandatory to distribute zakat funds to the underprivileged and refrain from taking advantage of them by making interest-bearing loans. In Islam, lending money in this manner is prohibited.
Now the relevant question is: are we properly distributing the zakat to address the real problem faced by our society? Does the Zakat money reach the appropriate person? The answer is negative; we do not have a proper zakat management system. For example, the Muslim predicted population for 2024 in India is roughly 20 crores, and if we take up only 2 crore people, the sahib-e-Nisab, to give zakat and filtra money, then it will not be hard to calculate that every year we can bring up many people from zakat receiver status to the status of zakat giver.
So, the Muslim ummah has the responsibility to let this money reach the right people and not just through them, where the real purpose is not served. Because being one of the five major pillars of Islam, zakat is a mandatory tax and not a voluntary donation. Giving Zakat signifies to a Muslim that everything is owned by Allah s.w.t. and that we should utilize it to honor Him and assist those in need. In addition to being a required contribution, zakat holds great significance since it is an act that teaches us self-discipline, honesty, and how to break free from excessive wants and greed. Zakat, which translates as “purification and growth,” is the practice of purifying one’s assets and money by allocating a certain sum to the underprivileged and destitute.
In conclusion I would like to add that Eid al-Fitr is a festival of thanksgiving, unity, and faith. It acts as a reminder of the value of a strong sense of community, spiritual dedication, and empathy for others. Muslims should strengthen their links to their faith and raise their communities in the spirit of justice and love by comprehending the significance of Eid al-Fitr and embracing its teachings.
The awriter is member of Faculty of Mathematics, Department of General Education SUC, Sharjah, UAE. Email: reyaz56@gmail.com
