The Significance of Eid-l Fitri -By Fatimah Hamid Omotayo

Eid-l fitri is the Islamic festival for Muslims to break a month’s fast. It is also known as their lesser Eid.

Eid-l fitri marks the end of Ramadan, the 9th and most holy month of the Islamic calendar where fasting takes place, and the end of the month is celebrated during the first three days of the succeeding month (Shawwal), the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.

Eid-l fitri is the precious day that friends greet one another in a very unique way. Gifts are given, new dresses are worn, excitement fill everywhere, and the graves of relatives are also visited.

Eid prayer takes place in the morning, in a big mosque or a very large place to accommodate a lot of worshippers.

Towards the end of Ramadan, Muslims give a small amount of money in charity, approximately $10 per person and this goes to the less privileged ones. It is meant to allow the families struggling to celebrate Eid also buy clothes, for their wives and children.

Early morning of the Eid day, Muslims give out food like rice, beans, maize, Garri of four cups called “Muddu” per person to the less privileged ones, for them to also put something on their table on that sallah day.

As Muslims celebrate, it’s important for them not to forget the less privileged ones, to try to ease their burdens and make them feel happy too.

On Eid day, Muslims take spiritual bath, dress up, wearing their best dresses. The bath and the new dresses portray spiritual iteration, leaving the month of Ramadan, a month of discipline in a more beautiful spiritual state.

Food is important part of Eid too. Eating takes the place of fasting just as ease in the next life will take the places of challenges in this world.

In the Glorious Quran, Allah (S. W. T) says: “Eat and drink with happiness because of what you do.” (Q52:19), meaning that the reward of fasting is that, one will enjoy eternal buffets and luxurious meals in the hereafter.

After the Eid prayer, many Muslims focus on gift exchanging and family gatherings to wine and dine together.

The day is usually marked by visiting relatives and friends to celebrate together, share the happiness and harmony as well.

On Eid day, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) would take one road to the mosque and different road on his way back. The prophet (S. A. W) engaged in this act in order to greet as many as possible people and spread peace, love and happiness among Ummah.

Aisha(R.A), the wife of the prophet Muhammad (S. A. W) noted that on the day of Eid, there were people playing in the mosque and entertaining others.

Therefore, Muslims can celebrate Eid by entertaining themselves.
Meanwhile, Muslims should take note that it’s prohibited to entertain themselves with unlawful things such as pork, any alcoholic drinks, and the likes of forbidden foods or hanging out with non Mahram(opposite sex that are not entitled to each other), this can deprive someone from having the reward of the Eid celebration.

I pray to Allah, in His infinite mercy and innumerable blessings to accept this Ramadan and all deeds done in it as acts of worship (Ibaadah). May we all celebrate this Eid with Joy and Happiness and may Allah spare our lives to witness more of it on the surface of the earth in good health and enormous wealth. Amin.

TaqobalalLaahu Minnaa Waminkum!

Fatimah Hamid is a 100 level student of Education and Biology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.