Eid: A Festival Of Togetherness

that people can come out of their daily routines, meet one another, and celebrate together in an open environment. They break the circle of loneliness and join the larger circle of society. Festivals are usually held on special historical days so that people become more interested in them. This is also the case with the festival of Eid. The day of Eid is fixed for the first date of the next month, right after Ramadan ends. The month of Ramadan is the time when the Quran was first revealed (Quran, 2:185). That is why Muslims around the world fast during this month. It is a fast that is observed with great seriousness. By fasting during this month, Muslims cultivate spirituality within themselves so they can thank God for guiding them on the true path during this period. Along with that, Ramadan is called the month of patience and taqwa. (Quran, 2:183; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 7577) This means that fasting helps a Muslim live life according to the teachings of the Quran. In this way, the month of fasting holds special significance in Islam. That is why, as soon as Ramadan ends, the festival of Eid is celebrated on the first day of the following month, Shawwal. If the month of Ramadan is the month of fasting, then the month of Shawwal is the month of eating, drinking, and celebrating. The last day of Ramadan shows that the restrictions are ending, and the first day of Shawwal shows that those restrictions are being lifted.