The World Federation of KSIMC

Eid and Beyond

The word EID conjures up various images – the crescent, the joyous calls to family to announce its arrival, the smell of food being prepared for the festivities, the gifts that we start packing to give to our loved ones, the preparation of the clothes we will adorn on the days, the beautiful smiles of family and friends who herald the joyous day etc.

Alas, a lot of these images this year will be exactly that, images! Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, this Eid is probably the closest we have ever come to date to be mindful and appreciate what Allah has bestowed on us with his bounties.

Let us recalibrate the message of Eid al Fitr,

When one examines the holy Qur’an and what expounds on those who succeed and prosper, the qualities are sublime. Those who are humble (23:1-2), those who serve Allah (22:77), those who do deeds that are weighty (23:102), those who are not miserly (59:9), those who are with Allah (58:22), those who are people of remembrance (8:45), those who are God weary (5:100), and those who struggle in His way (5:35).

Imam Redha (pbuh) states: Allah has made the day of “Fitr” a reason to celebrate so that Muslims can congregate and come together on this day and be able to praise and glorify Allah for His favours and blessings upon them, and to pay their religious taxes (Zakat and Fitriyah), to relish and venerate Allah.

From this narration, the philosophy of this day and the prayer of this great day can be summarised in the following points:

1. A day of congregation and assembly

2. To pay the Ramadan charity and give attention to the poor
3. To gravitate towards and relish Allah (swt)
4. Supplication and beseech Allah (swt) at His doorstep.

For a lot of people, this has been one of the most fulfilling months of Mahe Ramadan, for it has given us the time to contemplate, reflect and take corrective actions to better ourselves. In a lot of cases, we hear of those who have connected with their loved ones in ways they never did, they appreciated what they had as opposed what they yearned and learnt to understand Allah via his awesome power and infinite mercy.

How should this Eid onwards be different? How about this as an initial checklist:

• Cement ties to the family – nuclear and extended;

• Ensure you are inquiring of the well-being of friends, neighbors and those you know are in need;

• Give of yourself and of your wealth to the have nots;

• Prioritise your health;

• Let reflection and contemplation be a way of life and not something that is a passing exercise;

• Pursue learning with a view to gaining knowledge which culminates in wisdom;

• Share the learning with a view to give back to society in a way that makes this world a better place;

• Communicate, communicate, communicate – with Allah (swt), your family, your friends, your neighbours, your staff etc.

• Continuously account for yourself to yourself thus building a strong moral fiber to enable you to self-correct before you do anything that displeases Allah;

• Expand your horizon for it to encompass the whole of humanity after all the chosen ones were sent as a mercy to the whole world;

Whilst this list is not exhaustive, it at least serves as a starting point. Let not the absence of the ritualistic side of Eid be a hindrance to a new you and real new world order for the Awaited one to appear in.