Tariq Mahmood, Toronto, Canada
As the month of Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims welcome Eid al-Fitr – a celebration of a month well spent in devotion, prayer, sympathy and charity. You may have seen various celebrations of Eid, from family gatherings with mighty meals to handing out money to young children.
But how did the Holy Prophet (sa), the first person commanded to celebrate Eid, mark this special day?
Eat First!
In the early morning of Eid al-Fitr, the Prophet (sa) would begin the day by eating. This was purposeful: as the Muslims had spent the last 29 or 30 mornings without food, the Holy Prophet (sa) made Eid truly feel like a celebration by satiating himself with dates before going to offer the Eid Prayer.[1]
Your Best Self
The Holy Prophet (sa) would also focus on perfecting his outer self. He would bathe, wear his best clothes, and adorn himself with pleasant scents.[2] This is because Eid is a day when Muslims must present their best selves, and truly commemorate the day with full force.
A Motto Reserved for Eid
As Muslims journey to the Eid Gah (hall) for the Eid prayer, they recite a prayer that is reserved only for the Eid days. This prayer is, ‘Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. And to Allah belongs all praise.’ As Muslims drive, bike, or walk to the Eid Prayer all across the world, they recite this motto out loud as an opportunity to remember God.
Charity Alongside Celebration
The Holy Prophet (sa) also commanded every single Muslim to donate a small amount of wealth as Zakat al-Fitr, i.e. charity on the day of Eid al-Fitr. The Holy Prophet (sa) would also encourage extra charity on this day, and it was said that during the first Eids, women led the charge and gave the most charity.[3] Thus, Muslims are commanded to remember the less fortunate on such a blessed occasion.
The Eid Prayer
Muslims actually pray six times on this day, adding the Eid prayer. This consists of two units of prayer, but the prayer is unique, in that there are 12 extra declarations of Takbir (God’s greatness); as you may have seen, Muslims begin prayer with the words Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]. On Eid however, Muslims declare Allahu Akbar seven extra times in the first unit of prayer, and five extra times in the second unit. This is followed by a sermon delivered by the Imam and a silent prayer.
Hugs, Greetings, Prayers
When the Eid prayer is over, Muslims practise the action of the Holy Prophet (sa), and greet one another with hugs and handshakes. The companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) would often say to others, ‘May Allah accept from us and from you’, as a prayer that Allah would accept their Ramadan. The Holy Prophet (sa) would also take an alternate route home from the one taken to the Eid prayer, so that he could meet more people and further share in the joy of Eid.
Some Actions Don’t Change
It’s important to remember that despite Eid being an extraordinary day, Muslims still uphold the daily prayers and rules that are part of their daily lives. They strive to continue habits formed in Ramadan, such as feeding orphans and the needy. This is why the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has instructed Ahmadi Muslims to ‘include orphans in the Eid celebrations’ in order to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty![4]
If there’s anything the Holy Prophet (sa) has taught us, it’s that Eid is not meant to break the pattern of Ramadan, but to fortify it. Since Ramadan is the apex of repentance and seeking forgiveness, the Promised Messiah (as) reminds us that a true Eid is ‘the day of a man’s repentance, which is greater than all days and all Eids.’[5]
Thus, Eid is a day of greater prayer, greater love and greater joy. This is how the Prophet Muhammad (sa) celebrated Eid al-Fitr over 1400 years ago, and as such, this day becomes a beautiful chance for Muslims to replicate and emulate the Prophet of Islam (sa).
About the Author: Tariq Mahmood is a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada and serves on the editorial board of The Review of Religions.
ENDNOTES
1. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 953.
2. Imam Malik, Al-Muwatta, Hadith 609.
3. Sunan al-Nasa’i, Hadith 1579.
4. Understanding the True Spirit of Eid’, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), Delivered 2nd May, 2022. https://www.reviewofreligions.org/38537/understanding-the-true-spirit-of-eid/
5. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), Malfuzat – Vol. IV (Islam International Publications Ltd., 2024), 114-115.
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