Rediscovering the True Meaning of Eid
Many aspects of our modern lives have strayed from their core values, and unfortunately, Eids are no exception. What should be days of family gatherings, shared joy, and community connection have increasingly become just another holiday. Finding the true meaning of Eid is vital.
The purpose of designating holidays for work, school, and duties is to allow people time with their families, relatives, spouses, friends, and neighbors – not to travel to coastal resorts or ski centers.
Sadly, we hear reports of hotels being full in tourist destinations during Eids, traffic congestion, and cities emptying out.
The Spirit of Eid
Eid is about more than individual joy; it’s a celebration for the entire community – sharing excitement, connecting hearts, and fostering brotherhood among all Muslims.
Eid represents love, compassion, kindness, and mutual support amongst all Muslims, united by our faith. It’s a time to reveal the best of human nature and strengthen societal bonds.
Eid should begin with comforting those who are saddened, supporting the orphaned, and assisting those in need.
Indeed, Zakat al-Fitr (obligatory charity) is prescribed during Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed everyone capable to fulfill this obligation:
“Protect them [the poor] from hunger on this day.” (Ibn-i Sa‘d, I, 248)
Zakat al-Fitr is the equivalent of one day’s food for a person. The amount stated by religious authorities is a minimum level. Generosity extends beyond the bare minimum; it involves giving from what you cherish and even sacrificing for others.
Embracing Compassion
Our Lord, who teaches us the beautiful names of Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious) and Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful), desires that we be compassionate people ourselves. Connecting with hearts is one of the most fruitful ways to draw closer to Allah. As Yunus (Prophet Jonah) beautifully sings:
- Yunus Emre says, teacher,
- Even a thousand pilgrimages are not as good,
- As entering someone’s heart!
The great Sufi mystic, Sayyid Ahmed Yesevi, echoes this truth in his insightful verses:
- If you see a broken heart, be balm for it,
- If a wronged person is on the path, be their companion,
- Be intimate with the Divine Court on the Day of Judgment!
- If you are wise, hunt for the hearts of the lonely,
- Like Mustafa, roam the country seeking orphans!
Mustafa as-Sibai highlights this truth:
The Difference in Civilization
“Those who want to learn the morality of societies should look at their holidays. The true nature of a society is revealed through its inclinations and interests during holidays.”
“A blessed society is one that reaches the highest peak of social morality on its holidays, extends human consciousness to the furthest points, unites, helps each other, and has love, loyalty, and compassion in every heart.” (Ahlakuna’l-İçtimâiyye, p. 171)
When we view it through this lens, we see that holidays imported from the West—such as New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day—are days of self-interest, greed, consumerism, immorality, and vice.
Even “Mother’s Day” and “Father’s Day,” presented to exploit emotions, are merely excuses for capitalist businesses to sell goods.
Our beautiful religion of Islam commands us to value every day and night as a time of respect and service to our parents.
Those imported days from the West don’t include an “Orphan’s Day” or a “Needy People’s Day!”
Our Lord wants us to consider every day and night as a day for orphans, the deprived, the helpless, the lonely, and those without hope.
Reviving Ramadan with this awareness and spreading these efforts throughout the year is the most rewarding way to benefit from these blessed days.
Embracing Islamic Values
With this understanding, our Eids are days of sacrifice, compassion, and sharing. They are days of loyalty and remembrance.
During Eids, we must never neglect visiting the graves of our elders to recite prayers for them. Giving charity on their behalf is a beautiful act of kindness. It’s also important to seek blessings from our living parents by kissing their hands and inquiring about their well-being; advising them with good words, righteousness, and patience.
Eids are, in addition to all social obligations, a form of worship.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Those who revive the nights of Ramadan and Eid with devotion, hoping for its reward from Allah, their hearts will not die on the day when all hearts die.” (Tirmidhi, Du’a, 68)
Eids are times of ease and comfort. There is a risk of complacency. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“He who wants his supplication to be accepted in times of hardship should supplicate abundantly during times of ease.” (Tirmidhi, Du’a, 9)
This year’s Eid coincides with March, which also reminds us of the victory of Çanakkale. Çanakkale is a historical lesson where material power was defeated by spirituality and divine assistance.