FOR Muslims worldwide, Aidilfitri is a time to rejoice. As a complete way of life, Islam is in tandem with the nature and needs of mankind – this includes the need to rejoice. As such, Islam commands that Aidilfitri (to commemorate the end of Ramadan) and Aidiladha (to commemorate the pilgrimage to Mecca) be celebrated to fulfil this need to rejoice in the form of an act of worship. The word eid in Aidilfitri and Aidiladha originated from the word aud in Arabic which means “occurring annually.” In the book Al-Iqnaq Fi Hal al-Alfaz Abi Suja it is explained that eid also carries the meanings “rewards obtained by the servants of God” as well as “feeling of happiness.” As soon as the announcement of Aidilfitri is made by the Keeper of the Royal Seal, Muslims would start the takbir to praise God. This would go on until the next morning when the special Aidilfitri prayer is performed. In the morning of the first of Syawal, family members would gather and seek forgiveness from their parents, grandparents and siblings. This is a special moment for all as past mistakes are forgiven and family ties are strengthened. Garbed in colourful new clothes, Muslims would go to nearby masjid or musolla to perform the Aidilfitri prayer. For those who had not paid the zakat fitrah , then this would be the time to do so. The zakat fitrah is obligatory for Muslims as a means to assist those in need. After the Aidilfitri prayer, the imam would start the khutbah for Aidilfitri. He would touch on the importance of Aidilfitri in strengthening ties in the family and society. He would also talk on the lessons learnt from the ibadah of fasting during Ramadan. After the khutbah , it is time for the congregation to visit the homes of relatives and neighbours to further strengthen their silaturrahim (bonds). All these are in line with the tradition of the Prophet in celebrating Aidilfitri. According to the Prophet, Aidilfitri is one of the two festivities that are obligatory for Muslims. The other being Aidiladha. The celebration of these two festivities has much to do with the belief and faith of a Muslim. In one hadith correlated by al-Nasaii and Ibn Habban, it was mentioned that one of the Prophet’s companions, Anas, had reported that once the Prophet arrived in Madinah during the hijrah (migration) from Mecca, the Prophet noticed that the locals had two festivities. The Prophet then said to the effect that: “God has replaced the two days with two better days for you, namely Aidilfitri and Aidiladha.” This proves that the celebration of Aidilfitri and Aidiladha is not made up, but has much to do with the tradition of the Prophet. This is further strengthened by the commentaries made by the ulama (religious scholars) from the time of the Prophet until today. The celebration of Aidilfitri is a sunnah that must be upheld and performed as part of a Muslim’s faith. The history of Islam holds many stories on the way the Prophet and his companions celebrated Aidilfitri. For today’s Muslims, it is important that we study history so that we would not go astray in celebrating this important day. Celebrating Aidilfitri – the Malaysian style – is indeed a unique experience. Aidilfitri is a time for joy, but also a time for reflection. The country has been bestowed with peace, harmony and stability. While we celebrate the first of Syawal, it is imperative that we remember the plight of our unfortunate brothers and sisters all over the world. We should not forget the Muslims in Palestine, who are being continuously suppressed. We should also remember Muslims in war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq, who have to endure the fasting month and Aidilfitri amidst attacks and chaos. We should not forget the Muslims in Darfur who have to endure civil war and hardship. Only when we remember all these would we in Malaysia be truly appreciative of and thankful for the many blessings that we have. Muslims in Malaysia are better off than Muslims in other parts of the world. Malaysians can afford to celebrate Aidilfitri comfortably. We can buy food and clothing without much problem. Despite the multiracial composition of Malaysia, we can still stand united and put aside our differences for the sake of the country. The festive seasons in Malaysia epitomise this unity and understanding very well. We can see that every time there is a major festivity, such as Aidilfitri, Malaysians would join hands to celebrate. This is probably why the tradition of open house is very popular in the country. Ramadan is a time full of tests for Muslims. Hence, Aidilfitri is a time for Muslims to celebrate victory for being able to go through these tests successfully. But in celebrating this victory, we must remind ourselves that the lessons learnt during Ramadan should be inculcated within ourselves. We are taught to be careful and moderate in spending during Ramadan, and this should be observed even after the fasting month. We should not go overboard when spending for Aidilfitri. We are also taught to make time for worship. During Ramadan, masjid and musolla are full of people performing the night prayers of terawih and witir. While terawih is only exclusive for Ramadan, we should continue to spend time in masjid and musolla for worship, especially for the compulsory Maghrib, Isyak and Subuh prayers. After all, masjid is the house of God and we should make it a habit to frequent it regularly. A masjid should be the hub of a Muslim community’s activities and should not be left empty and quiet outside the month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims are also taught to be patient and tolerant among others and these virtues should be observed throughout the year. Equally essential is that we express our thanks to God by sharing and giving what little we may have with others. After all, Aidilfitri is a time for giving and forgiving. That is why it is a must for Muslims to give zakat fitrah as part of the commemoration of Aidilfitri. So important is the zakat , it is also one of the five basic pillars of Islam. Ramadan and Aidilfitri are reminders to Muslims that God’s bounties are plentiful, but not all are blessed with the many bounties of God. When one goes through the hardship of Ramadan and when one gives zakat fitrah , one is reminded of those who are less fortunate. Celebrating Aidilfitri in a kampung would often remind us of this. The relative hardship of living in the kampung compared with the luxury and modernity of the city could strike a chord within us that in many ways – each of us are indeed lucky and fortunate. Being able to celebrate Aidilfitri with our family, relatives and friends in our hometown or kampung , is reason enough for us to be thankful. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri and maaf zahir dan batin . |