Eid al-Fitr is a unique festival. It has neither a connection with any historical event nor is it related to the changes of seasons or cycles of agriculture. It is not a festival related in any way to worldly affairs.

The significance of Eid al-Fitr is purely spiritual. It is the day when Muslims thank Allah for giving them the will, strength, and endurance to observe the fast and obey His commandment during the holy month of Ramadhan.

Eid al-Fitr brings rejoicing and happiness. Happiness is not, however, at the departure of the month of Ramadhan; it is the happiness that man feels after completing a month of training and an important task.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is a kind of appreciation to Allah (SWT), who gave the Muslims the opportunity to improve themselves, to improve their personal behaviour, to improve their character, and their moral consciousness.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is a sign of praise to Almighty Allah, who gave Muslims the opportunity to obliterate their sins and to atone for their mistakes that had accumulated throughout the whole year; and this is the time during the month of Ramadhan when Muslims try their best to atone for their sins as much as possible. For this reason, Muslims go through a rigorous training program during the month of Ramadan. Allah said:” Indeed, the night spiritual training is superior and better than any other type of training.” (73:6)

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is a Thanksgiving Day where Muslims assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere to offer their gratitude to Allah for helping them to fulfill their spiritual obligations prior to the Eid. This form of thanksgiving is not confined to spiritual devotion and verbal expressions. It goes far beyond that to manifest itself in a handsome shape of social and humanitarian spirit. The Muslims who have completed the fasting of Ramadhan express their thanks to Allah by means of distributing alms among the poor and needy on the first day of Shawwal.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is a Day of Remembrance. They pray to Him and glorify His name to demonstrate their remembrance of His favors. Along with that course, they remember the deceased by prayer for their souls, the needy by extending a hand of help, the grieved by showing them sympathy and consolation, the sick by cheerful visits and utterances of good wishes, the absentees by cordial greetings and sincere considerateness, etc.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is a Day of Victory. The individual who succeeds in securing his spiritual rights and growth receives Eid with a victorious spirit. The individual, who faithfully observes the duties which are associated with the Eid, is a triumphant one. He proves that he holds a strong command over his desires, exercises sound self-control, and enjoys the taste of disciplinary life. And once a person acquires these qualities, he has achieved his greatest victory, because the person who knows how to control himself and discipline his desires is free from sin and wrong, from fear and cowardice, from vice and indecency, from jealousy and greed, from humiliation and all other causes of enslavement. So, when he receives the Eid, he is in fact celebrating his victory, and the Eid thus becomes a Day of Victory.

That is the proper meaning of Eid: A Day of Peace and thanksgiving, a Day of Forgiveness and moral Victory, a Day of Good Harvest and remarkable achievements, and a Day of Festive Remembrance.

Ahmad Sakr