Eid al-Fitr: A Day of Divine Reward

EID AL-FITR: A DAY OF DIVINE REWARD meaning. Sweets represent not only the spirit of Eid, but also the true spirit of Islam. The prayer observed on the day of Eid is offered in congregation. All the Muslims, including women and children, gather together in this congregational prayer in order to promote harmony and brotherhood, not only among Muslims but also among all men and women. Eid comes just after the final day of fasting. The month of fasting and the day of Eid al-Fitr both represent two very important features of the religion of Islam. The Prophet of Islam said that the month of fasting was a month of patience. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 20323). That is, it is a month of self-restraint, a month of self-discipline, a month of self-control, a month of promoting duty-consciousness. Eid al-Fitr represents the reward of God, which will be granted by God to those who observe one month’s fasting. In other words, fasting represents dutiful worldly life and Eid al-Fitr represents the reward that will be given in return by God to man. According to a tradition, the day of Eid is the day of divine reward. When believers observe their duty in the month of Ramadan in the true spirit, God Almighty declares: “O angels, be witness that I have decided to bestow upon them paradise in the world hereafter.” (Shu’abul Iman, Hadith No. 3444) In short, the month of fasting represents the responsibilities of the believers in this world and Eid al-Fitr represents the reward given to them in the world hereafter.