What Is Eid-ul-Fitr?

The Arabic term Eid traces its etymology to the word ‘awd’ which actually means ‘to return’. Therefore the day of Eid is actually the day of ‘return’ towards the Beneficent Lord.

The man is created with a pure fitra which guides him always towards His Creator Sustainer Lord. But man covers his fitra on which he is created, with the dust of sins and heedlessness and thus becomes estranged with His most Loving Lord.

The month long worship and purification in the blessed month of Ramadan removes and clears the hardened layers of sins and reconnects the man with His Creator Lord. So on the day of Eid, that is the day of return, man returns towards His Lord with purified soul.

It’s a day of celebration because we receive the rewards after a month long worship and rigorous spiritual training, and it’s also the day of thankfulness to the Lord because He opened the doors of mercy and forgiveness through the blessed month of Ramadan.

The day of Eid is not a day when we return to our old life of thanklessness and heedlessness, but rather it’s a day when we go ahead in life with renewed spiritual energy and determination.

We should remember Allah this day more frequently and recite the supplication of Imam Ali Sajjad (AS) in Sahifa Sajjadia on the day of Eid, and this dua from Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaaid ad-Duaa Lil Qai’m. We offer special prayers on the occasions of Eid to express our gratitude to Allah subhanhu wa taa’la, in this wake.

The day of Eid also mandates for us to pay zakat al Fitra. The poor and needed should be given this zakat so that they can a Eid free of all worries on what to eat. Islam stipulated the minimum, it is recommended to give more grains and funds in charity to the poor.

I end my brief post with the humble request that when you stand to pray on the day of Eid, remember all believers and all the world oppressed in your prayers.

A special request from me to all believers to please remember His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky of Nigeria in prayers who is still held in detention by the wicked, evil and bloodthirsty Nigerian tyrant Buhari after he murdered more than 1000 followers of Sheikh Zakzaky that included his 3 sons and dumped the dead bodies in mass graves.

Eid Mubarak To All!

Note:This article was culled from the website of www.al-Islam.org with special additions by Harun Elbinawi