Eid-ul-Fitr: Share your happiness with the poor and the needy
21 April 2023
THE nation is going to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two great religious festivals for Muslims. Though it is often called the 'lesser' Eid unlike the 'greater' Eid-ul-Azha, it is equally important in the lives of Muslims. After month-long fasting in the holy month of Ramzan and, with the sighting of the Shawal moon, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr comes, bringing joy to each Muslim household, rich or poor.
This year, Muslims will observe this festival in Bangladesh in a different economic condition. For about a year, the country has been going through a huge economic crisis with unprecedented food inflation. For most people it has become hard to maintain their lives. For those who could not manage two square meals a day, fasting began a long time ago and with the end of Ramzan, their fasting will not come to an end.
This hard condition has been multiplied by the present burning summer heat, but the pious Muslims have practised 'swam' all through the month and Allah has promised them generous return for it. The Prophet (SM) said, "(Allah said), 'Every good deed of Adam's son is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.' Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk."
However, Eid is an occasion that generates great business in the Muslim community everywhere in the world. All kinds of businesses get a boost in this season, but clothes and foods businesses surpass them all. As people in general do not have much money now - not to mention the condition of those poor people with empty hands - it has been reported in the news media that less crowds of people were seen in the shopping malls and marketplaces in the days ahead of this Eid.
It is customary in the Muslim society to give mandatory zakat and fitrah, and additional sadaqah (charity) at this time. If the richer section of Muslims - all - gives mandatory poor tax following the injunction of Islam, the poorer among the community would have been relieved of their hardships. The institution of zakat in Islam is, in fact, founded for creating an economically balanced community where happiness can be shared by all.
On Eid day after offering two rakats of salat, Muslims in Bangladesh like elsewhere will pray for peace and welfare of the Muslim Ummah in particular and humanity in general. May Allah forgive us all and give us strength to overcome the problems of our lives. Eid Mubarak to all.
