ETIQUETTE OF CELEBRATING
EID
By: Lubnah Abdulhalim
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| Photo Courtesy: babble.com |
The
end of Ramadhan is always a saddening moment, since we are forced to wave it
goodbye till next year if God wills but God gave us a joyful event to mark the
end of it so we may be happy for the completion of the holy month. Eid comes
with its own anticipation and excitement, with everyone having their own way
and plans to celebrate the grand day, but the important question is, do we do
it the right way?
Eid
does not, and I emphasis, does NOT mark the return to our old bad, evil habits
which we restrained from during the month of Ramadhan. It does not mark the day
for the ladies to start walking around with their over worn make up, fancy hair
styles exposed and meeting with boys and men who are non mahram in secrecy.
This day neither marks the day for anyone to start chewing miraa again or get
their lose tongue into action or anything else. We are not celebrating the
return of Shaitan, are we?? Because if this is what we do, then we are
definitely making him a welcome back home party!
Eid
is the happy day. The day we go meet our families and have a get together for
the day. It is the day we value each other as brothers and sisters, and as
family, and enjoy our time together. It is also the day we make time to visit
the sick in the hospitals and go to the orphanages to give charity to the less
able so that they may as well have a chance to eat and wear well and be happy
on this particular day.
Every
child anticipates the wearing of a new dress or cloth for the event and not
only the children, but the adults as well. Majority of the people save money
for this special occasion and ensure they have beautiful clothes and
accessories to wear. But there is always a limit to everything and God doesn’t
like the spendthrifts. Some people go to the extents of getting big loans for
the occasion and yet they know very well it will be difficult to pay back the
amount. You can still celebrate and be happy just as simple as you are.
More
on this festive season, most people organize parties with friends or families
to celebrate. But are we doing it the right way? Are we going to have fun and
have the limits as per God wants from us or are we going to start doing all
those acts that annoy God. Are we going to forget that just the previous days
we were crying humbly so we may be granted the mercy and forgiveness of God and
now just two days after, we are back to our old ways as if the God of Ramadhan
is not the same God of all the other months?
Muslims
should work to ensure they celebrate the right way. There are a lot of good
deeds one can still do in this festive season. Apart from what I previously
mentioned, Muslims can go to the graveyards and make a dua for their dead
relatives so God may have mercy on them. Muslims shouldn’t get too engrossed in
the eid excitement and forget to pay zakatul fitr to the needy which is to be
paid before swalatul Eid.
Remember,
sinning on the day of eid is like sinning on yaumul waeed (yaumul qiyamah), so,
are we going to risk it to sin on such a day really?? This is food for thought
for everyone. Wishing you all a happy festive season and in sha Allah we all
try to fast the six days of Shawwal for more blessings. May Allah guide us always, ameen. As for Ramadhan, we
will be anxiously awaiting for your next visit and we hope to live and see you
again in shaa Allah!
