Eid-ul-Fitr is not all about dressing
up in fine new clothes, eating delicious treats and pursuing carnal pleasures
and delights.
In its outward celebration Eid-ul-Fitr
is actually meant to symbolize:
- the acceptance of acts of worshipful obedience;
- the remission of sins and mistakes;
- the conversion of bad deeds into good deeds;
- the glad tidings of promotion to higher spiritual degrees
- and the conferring of robes of honor, gifts and gracious favors.
Eid should be celebrated, but together
with celebrating it, Allah Ta’ala should also be remembered.
Whether there is happiness or sadness,
He should never be forgotten; just as Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
has said, “The people who will be called towards Paradise first on the
Day of Judgment are those who praised Allah Ta’ala during happiness and
sadness.”
Let us look at the true essence and
significance of Eid-ul-Fitr and the way in which those pious servants closest
to Almighty Allah celebrated Eid.
Eid of our Pious Predecessors
If we study the lives of the Companions
and our pious predecessors we will see that even though they used to worship
extensively in the month of Ramadaan, they would still feel regret and sorrow
on the day of Eid. They were constantly worried about the fact of whether
or not they had fulfilled the rights of Ramadaan.
It is reported about Hazrat Umar
(Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that on the day of Eid, he sat in a corner and
cried so much that his blessed beard became soaked. When people asked the
reason for this, he replied, “How can a person who does not know if his
fasts have been accepted celebrate Eid?”
This is that same Hazrat Umar
(Radiallahu Ta’ala ‘Anh) about whom Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
said that his good deeds are equivalent to the number of stars in the sky, is
crying upon reflecting as to whether his fasts have been accepted or not,
whether he has obeyed the orders of Almighty Allah properly and if Allah Ta’ala
is pleased with them.
Allahu Akbar Kabeera!
And yet sinners like us are absolutely
carefree and cannot wait to engage ourselves into sin again!
It was on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr that a
man once entered the presence of Hadrat Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and
found him eating coarse brown bread.
“Today is the day of Eid, yet here you
are, eating coarse brown bread!” the man exclaimed.
So Hadrat Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh)
replied to the visitor, saying, “Today is the day of Eid for someone whose fast
has been accepted, whose effort has been deemed worthy, and whose sin has been
forgiven. Today is Eid for us, and tomorrow is Eid for us. Every day in which
we do not disobey Allah Ta’ala is an Eid for us.”
Commenting on this incident, Hazrat
Shaykh Sayyid Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A.) says that it is therefore important
for every intelligent person to stop focusing on the external aspect, and not
to let it capture his attention. His perspective on the day of Eid should be
from the standpoint of contemplation and reflection.
Let us, this year spend a different Eid
than we have spent all our lives, and show some loyalty to our Rabb who gave us
the blessing of Ramadan. Let us prove to Him that we worship not only the Rabb
of Ramadan but the Rabb of all 12 months. And that we want to please Him
outside of Ramadan as well!
Source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/zaynab-academy-karachi-unofficial/the-eid-of-our-pious-predecessors/233043146819067
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