Showing posts with label Islamic holy month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islamic holy month. Show all posts

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Eid ul-Fitr or Ramdan (Ramazaan)



Eid-ul-Fitr, "Eid-ul-fitr", Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr commanly known as Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Ramadan the Islamic holy month of Fasting or Roza. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiáš­r means "breaking the fast". The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire Month of Ramadan. The first day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month Shawwal. This is a day where Muslims around the world try to show a common goal of unity. It is a day to recognizance the God.

Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two raka'ah (units) and generally offered in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation (Jama’at) and has an additional extra six Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while saying "Allah-u-Akbar" [God is Great]), three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and three of them just before ruku' in the second raka'ah in the Hanafi school. This Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on which juristic opinion is followed Fard (bligatory), Mustahabb,(strongly recommended, just short of obligatory) or mandoob (preferable).
Muslim believe that they are commanded by God, as mentioned in the Qur'an, to continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan and Pay the Zakat al-fitr before doing the Eid Prayer
The Islamic Prophet Muhammad has originated The Eid al-fitr and is observed on the first of the month of Shawwal at the end of the holy month of Ramadan in which the believers undergo a period of fasting.

Celebarations in South Asia: 
 
In Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, the night before Eid is called Chaand Raat, which means, "Night of the Moon." Muslims in these countries will use to visit bazaars and shopping malls with their families for Eid shopping. Women, especially younger girls, will often apply the traditional Mehndi, or Henna, on their hands and feet and wear colourful bangles.
The traditional Eid greeting is Eid Mubarak, and it is frequently followed by a formal embrace. Gifts are frequently given — new clothes are part of the tradition — and it is also common for children to be given small sums of money (Eidi) by their elders. It is common for children to offer “Salam” to parents Elder Family members and relatives.
After the Eid prayers, it is common for some families to visit graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members. It is also common to visit neighbors, family members, specially senior relatives called Murubbis and to get together to share sweets, snacks and special meals including some special dishes that are prepared specifically on Eid. Special celebratory dishes in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh include sivayyan,(Sheer Khurma) a dish of fine, toasted sweet Vermicelli noodles with milk and dried fruit.In Bangladesh,this dish is called shemai.
On Eid day before prayers, people distribute a charity locally known as fitra. Many people also avail themselves of this opportunity to distribute Zakat, an Islamic obligatory alms tax of 2.5% of one's annual savings, to the needy. Zakat is often distributed in the form of food and new clothes.


In India, some popular places for Muslims to congregate to celebrate Eid  include the Aishbagh Idgah in Lucknow; in Kolkata there is a prayer held on Red Road, Jama Masjid in New Delhi,                 Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad,  Muslims turn out in the thousands, as there is a lot of excitement surrounding the celebration of this festival. It is common for non-Muslims to visit their Muslim friends and neighbors on Eid to convey their good wishes. Eid is celebrated grandly in the city of Hyderabad which has rich Islamic Heritage. Hyderabadi Haleem a type of meat stew is a popular dish during the month of   Ramadan, it takes center stage and becomes the main course at Iftar (the breaking of the fast).
The Month of Ramadan is also the month souls are purified. The social scientists studying ethics, believe that acquiring ideal sublime and ethical conscience passes through three stages
1. Getting rid of bad habits and attitudes
2. Acquiring new good traits and habits
3. Strengthening and crystallizing these traits
It has been related that if one's Sins were not forgiven in the month of Ramadan, they will not be forgiven until the following month of Ramadan or until he performs Hajj pilgrimage.