![]() It was during this month that Allah gave Prophet Muhammad the Holy Quran for the first time on one of the odd nights of the last ten days of the month of Ramzan. The exact date is not known. Muslims keep a fast every day during this month and the completion of the period is decided by the appearance of the new moon. Prayers are offered in mosques and Eidgahs and elaborate festivities are held. 'Do Rakat Namaz', the Eid special prayer is performed in the morning in the mosque. These prayers can be read anytime between sunrise and just afternoon. Charitable gift, called Sadaqah Fitr, is to be given to a needy person as thanksgiving. Even one who has not kept the 'rojas' is expected to give alms. The amount to be gifted must be in excess of one's essential needs and free from all the burden of debt. Food grains or their cost can be donated. The Quran also specifies the grain and their quantities. A person should give 3.5 lb of wheat or its flour per head, or 7 lb of barley per head or their cost. Do Rakat Namaz is performed. Even women in veil attend the prayers in special chambers. ![]() At the end of the prayer, the Kazi delivers a sermon and then offers special prayers to Allah for the welfare of the faith, remission of sins of all Muslims, for the safety of pilgrims and travellers, for the recovery of the sick, for timely rain, for protection from misfortune and for freedom from debts. Thereafter, people visit friends and relatives to say Eid Mubarak and to attend Eid fairs to buy toys and trinkets. Eid ul-Fitr is an occasion for general goodwill. Each day of the holiday is spent with one of the relatives, so that everyone is visited. In the evening, the visits start up again. This goes on for three days, but money is normally given to the children on the first two days. Women prepare sweets at home. Vermicelli cooked in sweetened milk, is popular. People then get together for celebrations. Some people visit cemeteries and stay there for many hours. This is perhaps to honour their ancestors and to be with their spirits. To a devout Muslim, Eid is a time to forget all past grievances. |