RSS | The spirit of the holy month has filled the air with awe and serenity in UAE. The breeze of peace and gratitude wavers the Arabian sand , prayers echoes in the ears, people are on fast to purify heart, earnestly indulge in good deeds to wash away evil thoughts and sins, implore the almighty to accept thauba (repentance) & gearing up to welcome Lailatul Qadr. |
As the sun sets on Ramadhan, multitudes of Expectant eyes become glued to the skies, eager to sight the new moon. For that new moon heralds the coming of the Eid day, one of the two days Muslims all over the world celebrate each year in thanksgiving festivities and rejoicing.
Eid ul-Fitr or Id-Ul-Fitr, often abbreviated as simply Eid, marks the end of the 30-day fasting period of Ramadan and is a great celebration throughout the Muslim world. On the day of the celebration, Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible), to attend a special Eid prayer Two Rakat Namaz, that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc (Idgah) The prayer is generally short, and is followed by a sermon (khuṭba). Worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace and love after the congregational prayer. After the special prayers, festivities and merriment are commonly observed with visits to the homes of relatives and friends to thank God for all blessings.
For Muslims, Eid ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion with important religious significance, celebrating the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory, peace of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims celebrate not only the end of fasting, but also thank God for the help and strength that they believe HE gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control. It is a time of giving and sharing.
Common greetings during this holiday are the Arabic greeting ‘Īd mubārak ("Blessed Eid") or ‘Īd sa‘īd ("Happy Eid"). In addition, many countries have their own greetings based on local language and traditions.
When Muslims finish their fast at the last day (29th or 30th Ramadan), they recite Takbir
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر
la ilaha illa Allah لا إله إلا الله
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar الله أكبر الله أكبر
wa li-illahi al-hamd ولله الحمد
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
There is no deity but God
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
and to God goes all praise
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This is distributed to needy local Muslims prior to the start of the Eid prayer. It can be given at any time during the month of Ramadan and is often given early, so the recipient can utilise it for Eid purchases. This is distinct from Zakat based on wealth, which must be paid to a worthy charity.
Special foods and delicacies are prepared for the day and are distributed to neighbours and friends. Islam follows a unique approach in celebrating Eid. After the namaz , Muslims are supposed to celebrate the day in a responsible manner, greeting one another at home and in the neighbourhood. People visit each other's homes and partake of festive meals with special dishes, and desserts. Children receive gifts and sweets on this special occasion.
Legends
During the holy month of Ramadan was when Allah gave Prophet Mohammad the Holy Qur'an. One day, Prophet had a vision in which the angel Jibril told him how Allah wanted people to live. The Allah's words were revealed to Prophet Mohammad through the angel over a period of 23 years, and the words were written down to form the Qur'an. Ramadan is celebrated to remember this very special month.
Lailatul Qadr
Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour and dignity. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet Mohammed , when he was in prayer in the
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night people pray , recite the Quran, do Tasbih, Zikr, Duas as much as possible.
By: Shabina Sanad
GOWEALTHY.COM © 2006
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