Eid-ul-Fitr: Celebration of life and learning

Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival of the breaking fast, yesterday, marking the end of the revered month of Ramazan. It is believed that the holy scripture, Quran, was revealed through the angel Gabriel, to the Prophet during Ramazan.It is a month of prayer, of seeking forgiveness, of introspection and contemplation. During the month, the devout fast from dawn to dusk.

Thirty days of feeling pangs of hunger, more so of thirst, given the early summer we are currently experiencing. Felt even by us sitting in comfortable homes - what to say of the faithful who toil in the sun. Abstaining from eating or drinking helps one develop self-control, tolerance, and patience. Every evening, when the first drops of water trickle down your throat and you bite into a date, is a celebration of life, of gratitude to the Maker for His infinite blessings. 

Thus, during the month every evening is a feast-not just because you eat special goodies but because even a simple gruel tastes special. Every night is a feast for the soul because special prayers are offered late into the night when the entire Quran is completed in 30 days - the lilting cadence of the classical Arabic language, enveloping you in a spiritual embrace. 

The faithful during the month would have also read the Quran with greater reverence and pondered over its intricacies. After all the first command and word of the Quran was ‘Read, in the name of your Lord who created’. Tadabbur is what it is known, as we contemplated its relevance in our lives. Thirty days when we sought to develop Taqwa, God Consciousness, which inspires us to be on guard against wrong actions. We seek forgiveness for acts of commission and omission and strive to be better versions of ourselves. 

Eid is a day of celebration, of remembering the lesser fortunate, a day by when you ensure you have discharged the religious obligation of giving a certain portion of your wealth to the poor and needy, in charity. The challenge of course is to ensure the learnings of the month of Ramazan are not forgotten; that we retain the goodness in us and remain responsible and loving, empathetic and humane, good citizens of the world. 

Eid Mubarak!