Eid ul Fitr is the day after Ramadan in which Muslims celebrate the completion of Ramadan and the great worships in it.
Here are seven benefits and pearls of wisdom behind Eid ul Fitr.
1. Celebrating the completion of Ramadan
Eid ul Fitr is firstly a celebration of completing the worship of Allah (God) in Ramadan successfully. Eid ul Fitr is directly linked to Ramadan’s fasting, after all, it is called (The Holiday of Breaking the Fast)
Breaking the fast is One of the Two joys for the one who fasts.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
There are two joys for the fasting person: the joy when he breaks his fast, and the joy of when he meets his Lord.” (Authentic)
“ لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ وَفَرْحَةٌ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ ” .
The joy of breaking the fast comes by the end of the day, and also by the end of the month, on eid ul fitr!
The second joy is when the Creator, who created us in this life, revives us again. –When He brings us back to be accounted for our deeds, the good and the bad.
At that time, fasting sincerely for His sake and receiving the rewards of it becomes a real joy while standing before Him.
Also, in celebrating the completion of Ramadan Muslims celebrate the aid of Allah. Without Allah’s aid, no one could have been able to complete the fasting of even an hour!
One of the great benefits that a Muslim gets from Ramadan is that he gets confident in his capability. As one becomes sure that, no matter how hard it may seem, it’s easy when we resort to God’s aid.
Muslims deprive themselves of all the basic human needs for a whole month without a day off. Doing so makes them realize their capabilities and become confident that with the aid of The Creator, any matter in life would become easy.
2. Submitting to God’s orders:
Islam, in general, means submitting to the will of the Creator and His orders.
Submission (i.e., Islam) is clearly shown in fasting in Ramadan and it’s also shown by breaking the fast in Eid.
While fasting any day of the year is a good deed but not an obligation. In Ramadan, fasting is an obligation. On the day of Eid, however, fasting is forbidden!
This shows the submission to God’s orders as whatever He declares we follow, which is the very essence of Islam.
Muslims fast for Allah (God) and break their fast for Allah.
Muslims live for Allah, die for Allah, and worship Allah with all their hearts.
“Say, “Surely my prayer, my rites, my life, and my death are for Allah—Lord of all worlds. No partner with him, this is what I have been commanded and I am the first of Muslims.”
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٦٢ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ١٦٣
(Quran)
3. Worship Allah by being Happy
Celebrating Holidays is a form of worship that’s often not seen as such. Holidays exist in every nation, with different times, forms, and means of celebration.
Holidays become a part of the identity, and that’s exactly why they are hidden worship.
In Islam, there are only two holidays, Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. Those are a part of the Muslim identity, and both reflect the value of Islam.
Holidays are important to all People as they provide a sacred time in the year to celebrate and be happy. But that’s just a benefit of holidays; this isn’t a goal in itself.
That’s why it is critical to celebrate the holidays that Allah (God) made as holidays. Be happy, gather with the family, and enjoy your time, all while worshiping Allah…
Being happy is a worship that Muslims get rewarded for when it is for the sake of Allah!
4. Holidays give a sense of Unity
A big part of why holidays are sacred is because they give a sense of unity to all Muslims worldwide.
It is always remarkable and heart-touching to see the Islamic nation worldwide united in their holiday celebration, be it in breaking the fast after Ramadan on Eid ul Fitr, or on the big holiday after it, i.e., Eid ul Adha.
Starting the day with the streets filled with people going to the Masjid (Mosque) to perform the holiday prayer, and everyone around the world doing the same thing at the same time really solidifies the sense of brotherhood regardless of color or border.
Say, “In Allah’s grace and in His mercy—in that then, let them rejoice; it is better than what they hoard”
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌۭ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُون
(Quran)
5. Celebrating Eid ul Fitr Increases Piety:
The main wisdom behind Ramadan is that it helps Muslims being mindful of God and gets them closer to Allah. Worships in Ramadan increase piety by leaps and folds.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become mindful of God
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
(Quran)
And we have already seen how intertwined the celebration of eid ul fitr with Ramadan.
6. Gaining Empathy for others:
Being in someone else’s shoes makes one feel and relate to how they feel.
Many in this world may abstain from food or water… not by choice, but due to poverty or inability to find food or water.
Fasting humbles Muslims and puts them in the shoes of others so they can have empathy.
Also, to realize what they are going through and help them. Before Eid, there is an obligatory charity. Every Muslim, old or young, has to feed the needy.
7. Holiday of Reflections and Realizations
Nearly all Muslims have awakening realizations on the day of eid ul fitr.
Looking at the whole experience after it’s finished, and comparing how they see it from the day right before and the day after Ramadan, often gives us a great realization of our own nature and capabilities.
Comparing those two days, the day before and the day after Ramadan, makes you remember the truth of time in this world.
Before it begins, Ramadan seems so long that it would last an eternity! Many have this subtle fear and intimidation of how I would fast for that long! It seems as if you are entering into a very hard challenge.
On the day of eid ul fitr, the day right after Ramadan, when you look back on it, you find not only did time pass quickly and before realizing it, but also you see how easy fasting was, and you even feel ready to fast another month!
In Eid ul fitr, Muslims take time to reflect and internalize these realizations, as the experience of Ramadan reflects the reality of life.
This fleeing life, which seems as if it would last an eternity will end before we even realize it!
Achieving something in life might seem hard when you are looking at it from the outside, but when you start taking steps, ask the aid of Allah, and leave the results on Him, you find it easily done.
In the end, the hard work, no matter how hard it is, will end and only the reward of the deeds will remain.
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