LEGEND
A Celebration of Completing the Errand of Worshiping: Eid Al Fitr
All this while in Malaysia, majority of non-muslim nation have been misguided that Hari Raya Aldifitri (or known as Eid Al Fitr) as a celebration of a whole new year according to the Hijrah ( Muslim Calender), but the fact is Eid Al Fitr falls on the month on Syawal (10th month of Hirah), after the Ramadhan, a month of fasting where as an act of worshiping.
All before Eid Al Fitr : Ramadhan
Ramadhan is a holy month, where all the Muslim are given a task, Fasting. Like the other major religions in the world such as Hindu and Buddhist, fasting is rather a difficult task where you will need to hold on the temptation of any other things that will break your fast, but with the power of spiritual believes, one can easily overcome this task.
Fasting in Islamic practice include abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual activity and any other behaviour that serves to nullify the fast, including verbally insulting. In this holy month, the Muslim will perform religious practices such as reading Al-Quran, but this does not means they will stop their daily personal errands.
As a non-muslim, I tried to fast for a day, but I failed in the afternoon. I fully understand the needs of celebration to congratulate the Muslims where they able to fulfil their task as a Muslim, which is totally difficult.
The arrival of Syawal : Eid AL Fitr
As the dawn break, the family would visit the Mosque to have their prayer, together. Back at home, the younger generations will dress up in their new shirt and dresses, and greet (salam) theirs parents or elderly to beg for forgiveness of their past, the younger one will kiss the elders’ hand as sign of respect. Then they will visit the graves of their love ones. Later on, a feast will be held in one family and the other family members will join in the feast to celebrate the joy. In Malaysia, this celebration will goes on for a month, throughout the entire Syawal month.
All this while in Malaysia, majority of non-muslim nation have been misguided that Hari Raya Aldifitri (or known as Eid Al Fitr) as a celebration of a whole new year according to the Hijrah ( Muslim Calender), but the fact is Eid Al Fitr falls on the month on Syawal (10th month of Hirah), after the Ramadhan, a month of fasting where as an act of worshiping.
All before Eid Al Fitr : Ramadhan
Ramadhan is a holy month, where all the Muslim are given a task, Fasting. Like the other major religions in the world such as Hindu and Buddhist, fasting is rather a difficult task where you will need to hold on the temptation of any other things that will break your fast, but with the power of spiritual believes, one can easily overcome this task.
Fasting in Islamic practice include abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual activity and any other behaviour that serves to nullify the fast, including verbally insulting. In this holy month, the Muslim will perform religious practices such as reading Al-Quran, but this does not means they will stop their daily personal errands.
As a non-muslim, I tried to fast for a day, but I failed in the afternoon. I fully understand the needs of celebration to congratulate the Muslims where they able to fulfil their task as a Muslim, which is totally difficult.
The arrival of Syawal : Eid AL Fitr
As the dawn break, the family would visit the Mosque to have their prayer, together. Back at home, the younger generations will dress up in their new shirt and dresses, and greet (salam) theirs parents or elderly to beg for forgiveness of their past, the younger one will kiss the elders’ hand as sign of respect. Then they will visit the graves of their love ones. Later on, a feast will be held in one family and the other family members will join in the feast to celebrate the joy. In Malaysia, this celebration will goes on for a month, throughout the entire Syawal month.
Forgives and to be Forgives
According to the Indonesian Scholar, the asking for forgiveness tradition was known as “lebaran”, it was a result of acculturation between Javanese culture and Islam during 15th- century. The “lebaran” was first stated when Sunan Bonang, one of the Wali Songo ( Revered Saint of Islam in Indonesia) of Tuban in 15th-century Java, gathering the Muslims to elevate the perfection of their Ramadhan fast by asking forgiveness and forgiving each and others wrong doing.
Until today, this tradition only carry out in Indonesia and Malaysia as both of these countries are influence by the Javanese cultThe elderly will be seated, and the young ones will kiss their hand and beg for forgiveness while the equal generations will Salam each other and ask to be forgive and forgiving each other’s.
According to the Indonesian Scholar, the asking for forgiveness tradition was known as “lebaran”, it was a result of acculturation between Javanese culture and Islam during 15th- century. The “lebaran” was first stated when Sunan Bonang, one of the Wali Songo ( Revered Saint of Islam in Indonesia) of Tuban in 15th-century Java, gathering the Muslims to elevate the perfection of their Ramadhan fast by asking forgiveness and forgiving each and others wrong doing.
Until today, this tradition only carry out in Indonesia and Malaysia as both of these countries are influence by the Javanese cultThe elderly will be seated, and the young ones will kiss their hand and beg for forgiveness while the equal generations will Salam each other and ask to be forgive and forgiving each other’s.
Best attire and Decoration
Whenever there is a celebration, people are always looking forward to dress up and decorating their accommodation to keep up the joyfulness of the festival. Somehow, there are some saying that the reason of Muslim in their new or best attire on Eid Al Fitr is also according to the saying of Prophet Mohammad :
The Book of Miscellany
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who has, in his heart, an ant's weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah." Someone said: "A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?" Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people."
[Muslim].
Duit Raya and other gives
The child in Malaysia are given a packet with money during Eid Al Fitr, is an award to the children who successfully to fast in Ramadhan.
In the other countries, is really rare that the adult exchanges the gifts between adult, it usually is given from the adult to the young ones. The money packet in Middle East is known as “Eidia”. Some western countries, like England, also have practices of preparing Eid Goodie Bags which stuff with candies, party favors, stickers and all these fun stuff for children.
Whenever there is a celebration, people are always looking forward to dress up and decorating their accommodation to keep up the joyfulness of the festival. Somehow, there are some saying that the reason of Muslim in their new or best attire on Eid Al Fitr is also according to the saying of Prophet Mohammad :
The Book of Miscellany
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who has, in his heart, an ant's weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah." Someone said: "A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?" Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people."
[Muslim].
Duit Raya and other gives
The child in Malaysia are given a packet with money during Eid Al Fitr, is an award to the children who successfully to fast in Ramadhan.
In the other countries, is really rare that the adult exchanges the gifts between adult, it usually is given from the adult to the young ones. The money packet in Middle East is known as “Eidia”. Some western countries, like England, also have practices of preparing Eid Goodie Bags which stuff with candies, party favors, stickers and all these fun stuff for children.