Glimpse: The 2013 Eid al-Fitr

As the Islamic sacred month of fasting saw its conclusion yesterday, Muslims across the world become united today to welcome a three-day celebration whose advent is called Eid al-Fitr. Much like how Christmas is for the Christians, this grand festivity is considered an important holiday for the Muslims.

“Festival of breaking the fast”

Eid al- Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the first day of Shawwal, the month which follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. In most countries such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, this holiday serves as the beginning of the community’s three-day long feast. Meanwhile, the celebrations can last up to 12 days in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Along with Hajj or the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca, Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important celebrations for the Muslims. However, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the Eid. Since the conclusion of Ramadan is only considered official with the sighting of a new moon, the date can be observed earlier or much later depending on the country, hence the discrepancies. During this time, the Muslim community celebrates the purification that an individual receives from Allah during the month of fasting.

A day of prayer and celebration

Muslims start the day by gathering up early in the morning at a mosque or nearby outdoor prayer ground to offer their praises and thanks to Allah for giving them the strength and patience to endure the month of fasting. After the congregational prayer, they greet and hug one another in the spirit of peace and love. They dress up in their finest clothes, called “bayramlik” in Turkey. Sometimes, these clothes are purchased for the sake of the occasion itself.  Houses are lined with bright lights and colorful decorations. Each family prepares a large banquet and invites their friends and distant relatives to enjoy the merrymaking. The children go around the neighborhood collecting sweets while adults exchange gifts or give each other a small amount of money. As a gesture of wishing each other good will for the holiday, they greet each other with “Eid mubarak”, an Arabic greeting which translates to “May your Eid be blessed”. Sometimes, families even visit the cemetery to pay their respects to their deceased loved ones.

However, the Muslims remember that the Eid is also a time for sharing one’s blessings to the less fortunate. In fact, before the festivities take place, all families are obliged to donate a determined amount of food so that even the less fortunate can participate and have fun during the merrymaking.

Eid in the Philippines

Even though the Philippines is predominantly Catholic, the holiday is still celebrated to give the country “the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid al-Fitr,” according to the Proclamation No. 455. The first Eid celebration in the Philippines was commemorated last December 6, 2002. Filipino Muslims flocked to the grand congregation at the Manila Golden Mosque in Quiapo for their morning prayers. This was followed by a trip to the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park to share in a picnic with the passers-by as a symbol of unity and thanksgiving.

In an informal conversation with Br. Michael Broughton FSC, Vice Chancellor for Lasallian Mission and Alumni Relations, he says, “Muslims have become more open to letting other people into their religion. They invite other faiths to partake in their celebrations and rituals like the Iftar, just so that other people see that they’re human too, especially after 9/11.”

However, some Lasallians feel that the Islamic traditions should be better left off for the Muslims themselves. Iris (III, LGL) says that declaring Eid al-Fitr as a national holiday is a sign of respect to the Muslims in the country but feels that the non-Muslims shouldn’t be required to actually celebrate it. A third-year student taking up AB-PHM also shares the same sentiments. He believes that “respecting one’s religion doesn’t mean practicing it along with them. Just live and let live.” Additionally, Gabriel (III, AB-CAM) explains that “as bounded both by social grounds on rebuilding and restructuring our wounded ties with the Muslims, we should at the very least respect the solemnity of the time. They ask us not to participate and be assimilated to them, but rather understand that they too have a culture of their own. Not participating in Ramadan’s celebration does not mean that we undermine what is important to them, but rather, it serves as a reminder for all of us that all of us are in need of such spiritual and emotional recollection and should take time to meditate in good will with ourselves and our personal savior/s.”

Since August 9, 2013 is declared a national holiday, even the non- Muslim Filipinos get to take the day off by visiting their relatives, shopping in malls, or cramming for school and work requirements.