Id-ul-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramzan during which Muslims not just observe 30 days of fasting but make a serious attempt to understand the Koran in taraweeh , the late evening prayers. The significance of Ramzan itself stems from the fact that the revelation of the Koran began during this month for human guidance ( hudal linnaas ). It is a clear indication that the divine message is more anthropocentric than theocentric. Hence, the most positive act on Id-ul-Fitr would be to resolve to uphold Islamic humanitarianism. It begins with an obligatory contribution called zakat al-fitr in which prosperous families give away, for each member of the house, food items such as rice or wheat to the needy. This act is followed by thanksgiving congregational prayers in mosques and open spaces.
The importance of public-spiritedness in Islam can be gauged from the fact that for a man who was recognised as the most benevolent of his times, the Prophet’s altruism ( khairaat ) in Ramzan surged to the level of a “gusty wind” ( reehil mursalat ). This was in consonance with the Book he brought, which (in chapters 90 & 107) equates najd (perspicuous path) and deen (Islamic way of life) with liberating people from bondage, feeding the needy, indigent and the orphans, standing for peace, and mutually enjoining unwavering perseverance and compassion. Chapter 107 declares that failure to do the above would amount to falsifying and invalidating the deen of Islam! This Koranic proclamation coupled with the emphasis (in verses 20:114 & 22:46) on acquisition of knowledge and wisdom sets out the agenda for Muslims to resolve on this Id. In India, with the 2011 Census having reported widespread illiteracy and poverty among Muslims, the community’s main aim must be to use its collective financial power to uplift the underprivileged.
A. Faizur Rahman
