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What does Eid stand for and where did it originate from?

Celebration is part of the human society; to commemorate a specific day, have a joyful day outside, and mingle with relatives, friends, and other people. If we read the Quran closely, we will find that some of the prophets, if not all of them, had a similar celebration or Eid if you wish. When Prophet Ibrahim, may peace be upon him, said to his people that he was sick in order for him to stay behind and destroy idols, his people were going on that day to celebrate a specific holiday. Prophet Musa (mpbuh) challenged Pharaoh to battle him on a holiday so the people would be able to see the truth for themselves because the masses were going to attend the holiday that day. Therefore, Eid is one of those days that is excluded for the Muslims in the whole world. The word Eid comes from the Arabic root word ‘caada’ or ‘cuudu,’ which means repetition. In Islam, this notion of repetition is associated with the goodness and mercy that we keep receiving from Allah. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) migrated to Medina, he witnessed that the people of the city had a day of holiday. After his first second Ramadan in the second year of the Hijrah calendar, he received a revelation to proclaim to the people of Medina that Allah has ordered them to celebrate two days out of the calendar, Eid Al-Fitri and Eid Al- Adha.

How many times did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) fast and celebrated Eid?

He fasted 9 times and celebrated Eid 8 times.

What is expected from an individual to say and/or do during Eid?

It is part of the Sunnah on this day to clean yourself by taking a good shower early in the morning way before the prayer starts. It is also part of this day that you wear one of the best clothes that you have, to apply onto your body with pleasant scent, and eat a small portion of dates and or something sweet. It is very important on this day to show gratitude to Allah for having completed the fasting and abstained yourself from any sin, big or small. It is also significant to show much happiness, recite the takbeer (Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Li Laah Al-Hamd), to come to the mosque and stay throughout the khutbah in the mosque. Listening to the khubah, lecture, is part of the prayer just like attending the Friday khutbah is. During this lecture, one will hear great closing remarks of fasting and how your day of Eid should look like. One of the things that you do after the khutbah is completed is to ask Allah for His mercy and forgiveness, congratulate your other brothers and sisters, and wish others to see them back next ramadan and Eid (Kulu ‘Aam Wa Antum Bi Kheyr, Taqa Balna Mina Wa Iyaakum, Saalah Al-A’maal). It is a major sin to turn this day into a sinful party during the day or night.

What did we learn from Ramadan?

In Ramadan, we have learned much, especially how to abstain from any sins. However, we also learned patience; to not eat or drink the whole day, staying away from your spouse for sexual pleasures, and much more. The other thing we learned is trust because we are aware constantly that Allah is watching us; therefore, we stay from the things we are forbidden during the day in Ramadan. Anyone can say to others that they are fasting, but they can go back to the home or secluded area and eat. Ramadan also taught us order of things; we have a specific time that we have to eat and fast again. We apply this method to ourselves, afterward, because we have been doing this for consecutive days; thus, it helps us to bring order to our own life after Ramadan. During Ramadan we learned grew to be much merciful towards each other and increased our level of brotherhood. We controlled our soul from the things that the soul desires. In summary, Ramadan was like a school. It taught us to increase and safeguard our religion, manners, health, and social life.

What advice do you have for the Muslim community?

When you are taught, your knowledge and awareness increase. For example, we fasted for twenty nine or thirty days. In those days, we have stayed up all night long for taraweeh and tahajud, paid Zakatul Fitr, and participated in Eid celebration. Therefore, the former scholars of Islam used to urge people to be believer of Allah and not believer of Ramadan. So it is utmost important that you continue the mercy and brother/ sisterhood that you have obtained during Ramadan for the next months till next Ramadan again. We have gained much taqwa, fear of Allah, which in a sense is that we need to achieve after completing Ramadan so Allah can safeguard us in this life and the hereafter. We have also learned a sense of unity because we fasted and celebrated Eid together and at the same time, and we need to sustain this type of unity for all times.

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