In the name of Allah,the Merciful,the Compassionate.
It is natural for communities and nations to celebrate days or events of
significance in their cultural life or history.Such celebrations take on
different forms and include activities that are not always beneficial to
man.
Islam does not suppress any decent natural inclinations but it transforms
such inclinations into positive expressions and adds its own dimensions to
human and natural practices.This is how we understand the Hadith attributed
to the Prophet(peace be upon him) when he arrived in Madinah and found its
inhabitants observing two days of joy and entertainment.Upon enquiry the
people told the Prophet,may Allah bless him and grant him peace,that these
two days were days of joys and celebration carried over from the pre-Islamic
era.The Prophet said to them that Allah,Glorified and Exalted is He,has
given them two better days instead -the Eid al-Fitr and the Eid al Adha.
The Prophet called Eid al-Fitr -the day of reward - "yaum al jaizah".It is a
day of thanksgiving to Allah for He enabled us to perform the duty of
fasting through which we appreciate the deprivation of our unfortunate
fellow-beings.Through fasting we control our desires so that we can become
more sensitive to our purpose in life.Through reading and understanding of
the Holy Quran, we appreciate the greatest blessing of Allah Subhana Wa
Ta'ala bestowed upon Muslims and humanity at large.
Reflecting upon the occasion of Eid al Fitr one should note its three main
aspects:
First,the Zakat al Fitr -an amount of £2.00 per person(in Scotland,U.K.) to
be paid for every member of the family.It is supposed to be paid before
prayer.This signifies that on certain occasions Islam says that caring for
others may come even before prayer.It is important that we do not forget the
needs of others on the particular day.This goes to show that Islam was way
ahead of the West in making welfare provision available for the needy.
Second,the Salat al-Eid itself -in which Muslims affirms more than in any
other prayer the greatness of Allah by (Repeating seven successive Takbirs
then saying): “Allaahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illa Allaah, Allaahu
Akbar Allaahu Akbar Wa Lillahil-Hamd” (Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the
Greatest, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah, Allaah is the
Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, to Allaah all praise is due).
He is the greatest reality in their lives and to Him alone they bow.The
special nature of Eid celebrations ensures that people do not forget
themselves or are carried away by senseless practices and customs.
Third,the aspect that Muslims are advised to look cheerful in their best
clothes,put on perfumes,exchange greetings and visits - this is to signify
that we worship Allah and rejoice in the bounties He has provided.
May Allahu Subhana Wa Ta'la bless the Muslim Ummah and grant them many more
such occasions accompanied with the feeling of real brotherhood and sincere
love among themselves and deeper commitment to their faith.
With the very best of good wishes,
Musa Amadu Pembo
Glasgow,
Scotland
UK.
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Da’wah is to convey the message with wisdom and with good words. We should
give the noble and positive message of Islam. We should try to emphasize
more commonalities and explain the difference without getting into
theological arguments and without claiming the superiority of one position
over the other. There is a great interest among the people to know about
Islam and we should do our best to give the right message.
May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,guide us all to His Sirat Al-Mustaqim (Righteous
Path).May He protect us from the evils of this life and the hereafter.May
Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,grant us entrance to paradise .
We ask Allaah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will
benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. May Allaah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and
companions..Amen.
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