It is a well known fact that “Muslims” around the world celebrate the day after “Ramadaan” in great style. That day of celebration is known as Eid-ul-Fitr. At its core, “Eid” literally means recurring.  “Fitr” means eating and drinking; breaking the fast of the month of Ramadaan. Thus, Eid-ul-Fitr is the festival that marks the breaking of the fast at the end of Ramadaan.

 

Muslims treat it as a very special day.  They feel that it is an occasion for rejoicing. After all, they have just completed one month of fasting. On the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, they perform special prayers, give charity, consume palatable dishes, wear new and beautiful clothes, visit and invite family and friends, exchange Eid greetings and gifts, chant and sing religious passages, play games, have fun and express their great joy to mark the end of the prescribed month of fasting. The atmosphere echoes with joy and celebration.

 

However, what is it that Muslims truly celebrate on the day after Ramadaan? What have they achieved? What poverty have they conquered, and what disciplines have they adopted? Have they meaningfully felt for the poor, homeless, marginalised, and displaced? They claim Ramadaan helps them to nurture their feelings for the poor and the ones who normally go hungry as a way of life.  In reality, however, the poor fast for most of their life.

 

Further, have they arrived at a true plan to tackle poverty and the real reasons that bring about imposed and manufactured poverty? Are they prepared to become advocates and activists against poverty in their communities, societies, and governments? Do they exit Ramadaan rejoicing with a master plan to stand up for and alongside with the oppressed and the marginalised? Are they willing to reconsider the status of the poor by now considering them as equals in their humanity?

 

Those that employ the poor workers in the farms, factories, homes and in other projects and underpay them – are they now prepared to pay them wages that would enhance their welfare and well-being? Are those who resort to corruption and bribes, which are rampant in numerous Muslim communities – are they now prepared to abandon those practices and turn to cultivating values and standards that are pure, clean, and free from such corrupt practices. Are those business men and women who resort to deception in trade and commerce, as well as hiking the prices even of staple commodities – are they prepared to discontinue such practices with the end of Ramadaan? Are those that are in administrative positions as well as those delegated on behalf of people to administer their affairs – are they prepared to be fair, just, honest, and restore the dignity, humanity, rights and confiscated properties, and return them to their rightful owners? Will the prejudice and the hatred meted out to people of different religious and socioeconomic groups be discontinued?

 

Unfortunately, the above questions never cross the minds of Muslims who have finished the month of fasting. A simple neat check mark is carefully placed in their minds beside “Fast the prescribed month of Ramadaan” – check. Now it’s party time!

 

What the Qur’aan says about celebration, festivity and rejoicing

Most fundamentally, is there any reference in the Qur’aan to the things Muslims celebrate?  Does the Qur’aan advocate the festival, Eid-ul-Fitr?

 

Indeed, the Qur’aan is one of the Books of Allaah.  It consists of a collection of the highest values, principles, and standards for escaping manmade darkness and for ushering in the light and enlightenment of Allaah’s Guidance. It is not a new revelation (Surah 42 Aayah 13).  It confirms the revelations that existed before (Surah 10 Aayah 37).  It enunciates and supports only that which is most meaningful and beneficial for the human race by allowing them to rise out of the stagnation present in society (Surah 17 Aayah 9).

 

Here are multiple references directly from the Qur’aan about the topic of celebration. Compare the sense and substance of the following Aayaah with what Muslims celebrate on Eid-ul-Fitr.

 

What people in general celebrate: 

Surah 13, Aayah 26 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

Allaah’s laws which govern human life, spread out countless opportunities of all that is essential for comprehensive development for anyone who desires, wills, and acquires the capability towards that end. People who disregard Allaah’s Books, reject the dynamism of Al Aakhirat, and only rejoice and celebrate over matters that are of a transient nature and thus short lived.  Such a pursuit of transient and short lived objectives viz a viz the dynamism of Al Aakhirat, is nothing more than emotional and physical pleasures. This is so because Al Aakhirat is all about the immediate and distant future underlined with sustainability, regeneration, continuity, living on, betterment, enhancement, future empowerment and a better tomorrow.

 

Those who follow Allaah’s Guidance, celebrate their material acquisitions as means to  higher values, principles and standards of life: 

Surah 27, Aayah 36 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

When the envoys of Queen Sheba came to Sulaimaan (one who humbled himself, willingly submitted, and became a vehicle for Allaah’s guidance to people), he was amazed at the material richness they brought him, and he exclaimed, “Is it that you seek to extend and increase my material possessions with these popular forms of wealth? Rather, I prefer the values and principles of Allaah’s Books. They allow me better choices and enrich me much more than what you have presented. You are the ones who celebrate and rejoice at these forms of wealth.”

 

Those who are eager to escape human darkness are very happy for the Guidance revealed to His messenger:

Surah 13, Aayah 36 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

Those who received Allaah’s Book of sublime values and upright principles and attach great value to its revelation, rejoice and celebrate whatever it has been revealed and unfolded unto you. However, there are groups and sections of people who are not happy with its values and principles. They dislike parts of it. Express to such who dislike it: “I was enlightened and commanded to only obey the highest values and principles of life, and forbidden from forming partnerships and associations which share conflicting ideologies and contaminate the values and principles aimed at the highest standards of human well-being and welfare. I motivate myself with Allaah’s Book, aspire to its values, and invite everyone to consider and pursue such a path. It and it alone is my focus, destiny and goal.”

 

Some people rejoice at the setbacks of others:

Surah 3, Aayah 120 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

Those people who reject the fundamentals of Allaah’s Guidance and play double roles with you, conceal their evil intentions whenever they meet you. They are displeased whenever any good, benefit, or positive empowerment happens to you.

This is so because they are jealous of you and harbour ill will for you. This is their true nature:  if any setbacks befall you, they gloat in happiness at your failure, but if you remain steadfast and stay resolutely on the course of His Guidance, while taking every precaution and care to avoid harm and loss, their evil designs will not hurt you significantly in the long run. Everything that you do is within the boundaries of Allaah’s laws.

 

Some people rejoice at their opposition to the messenger, celebrate in backwardness, and discourage those who strive in HIS path.

Surah 9, Aayah 81 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

Those who compete against the message with their well known opposition to it, dislike to strive in its cause with their persons and resources. However, they have no difficulties in finding time, energies, and resources to have celebrations and festivities in such a state. They even discourage others from support it by highlighting the difficulties and hardships that would be in their path. Well, declare unequivocally to them the following: The hardships and difficulties that already exist in the numerous hell-like situations of many societies, are worse than the hardships and sacrifices that it will take, to sincerely and collectively build a united, harmonious, and universal system for the welfare and wellbeing of all.

 

If those who abandon the message and oppose it, were to comprehend its core teachings and objectives, they would realise that the human family has the capability to solve its problems. This would be possible only if humanity reverts to the standard universal values of mutual respect, love, care, protection and support for one another.

 

Neither brag nor use your wealth to oppress people:

Surah 28, Aayah 76 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

The wealthy class at the time of Musaa [the one who was sharp in his resolve, mind and action against the oppression of his society and who was considered a threat by them] were unjust to their people. We enriched them with different kinds of wealth that would require countless powerful people to reach such heights. The oppressed people were certain that Allaah’s laws do not favour those who brag about their wealth.

 

Some people fail to recognise that their setbacks in life result from the seeds they sow:

Surah 30, Aayah 36 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

Some people are immature, impractical, and unrealistic about the results in their lives. Whenever Our laws empower them to experience compassion, warmth, happiness, comforts, mercy, and countless other attributes to rectify one’s life, they become happy and resort to celebrations and festivities, failing to use these vehicles for better and higher values of life. However, when setbacks and calamities meet them as a result of their choices and actions, they become desperate and distressed. They ultimately lose faith and direction.

 

Those whose primary pursuits are materialistic possession, comforts, power and control:

Surah 40, Aayah 83 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

When our messengers came to humanity with the reasons for human darkness as well as with the clear values, standards, and principles of His Guidance, which must be cultivated, those people, whose primary focus has been material possession, comforts, strengths, power, prestige and control – arrogantly turned away and boasted about their possessions, skills, and knowledge they have; their focus has been materialism and a religion which promises them that after their death they would be saved from the hell fire and enter into the garden of bliss.  Notably, nothing concrete is said about the prevailing darkness except that it is a predestined prison for people with faith and a paradise for those who reject faith. With time, they are surrounded with their materialistic possessions and their powerless religions. This is the result for making mockery of His Guidance.

 

Those who argue with the gems of Our Guidelines and consider the values, principles, and standards of Allaah’s Guidance to be false:

Surah 40, Aayah 75 (Translated by Mohamed Saffie):

There you are, a people who rejected the principles and standards of Allaah’s Book and consider it forged and false because of prejudice and popular trends. This attitude breathes a sheepish mentality and personality  and eventually leads one to the popular social festivities and celebrations without any substantial, meaningful and prolong benefits to self, family and community. These activities are not underlined by Al Haqq– the truth and the essence of life.

They preoccupy your mind with mundane festivities and prevent you from reflecting on the most important issues of life.

Overall, you have become a being whose life is not build on validated directives,

A person who does not seek to achieve harmony and happiness by merit,

Failing to uphold and rise up for the rights and entitlements of the planet and those who reside in it, irrespective of being your family or not.

You pride yourselves and bloat about matters outside the realm of the Guidance.