Ramzan is considered as one of the holiest months in Islam for Muslims. It is also called the month of patience and blessings. We, as Muslims, are required to fast throughout this month. Furthermore, we are also required to pay charity to the deserving people in the forms of Zakat and Fitr.
According to Islamic teachings, whatever good acts and prayers Muslims perform in addition to keeping fasts during this month, God multiplies those deeds several times and rewards for them accordingly. That is the reason why Muslims try to take lead in performing such acts which can please God the most. The point to be kept in mind in this regard is that only those good deeds please God that are performed with fair intention and selflessness.
By now, we have already spent most of the Ramzan-ul-Mubarak. But the question is, have we achieved the aims for which Ramzan was selected for Muslims? Have we learnt the lessons which can help us lead our lives according to the directions given by God and conveyed through His Last Prophet (PBUH)? To answer that, we need to look deep into our conscience. If we fail to do so, we will be missing the train about which we are not sure of catching it again next year. So, we need to start acting now.
Eid is considered as the end of Ramzan. Allah has asked Muslims to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the end of the holy month because they have kept fasts for Him and now they are allowed to eat all the delicious things created by God for His creation. That is why Eid is regarded as a gift of God for abiding by His orders in Ramzan. All the Muslims celebrate this day very happily. They wear new dresses & shoes, cook tasty foods and visit each other’s houses to have a get-together.
People start their Eid shopping even before Ramzan, and it keeps on increasing by the every passing day of the holy month. Our shopping spree reaches its peak immediately after the official announcement of moon sighting.
Every year billions of rupees are spent on the occasion of Eid in Pakistan. This huge spending does not only include money for dresses, shoes and jewelry, but also comprises of the food items as well as decorating houses. No doubt, Eid needs be celebrated festively as per our Islamic traditions, but spending so much money for this purpose raises a number of moral questions. Practically speaking, we do not seem to be more interested in observing Ramzan as we do in our Eid shopping. The way we prepare for celebrating Eid, it looks as if Eid is more important than the holy month which is full of blessings.
In fact, Eid is similar to the result day at a school for students after their exams. If students devote more time and attention to celebrating the result day than preparing for their exams, can they enjoy the big day in a better way then? In the same way, Eid is the reward from God to the Muslims after they have refrained from all the prohibited things and acts during Ramzan for the sake of God. So, how would we get the real joy and satisfaction on Eid when we have given preference to Eid shopping than making the most out of the holy month?
Presently, Pakistani society is not only facing the economic crisis manifested in the form of inflation and joblessness, but it has also been badly affected by the disasters like flood, drought, terrorism and now the military operation in Waziristan. People have been facing these problems one after the other. So taking into account the prevailing worsening situation of the lower and poor classes of people, does it seem reasonable to spend so much money on Eid shopping by leaving our countrymen helpless?
Indeed, if we could spend just half of the money of our Eid Shopping to help out the deserving people especially during Ramzan, it would not only please God, but would also enrich us with the true happiness of Eid. Let’s see who of us gets the most joy on Eid this time. May Allah enable all of us to celebrate Eid the way He expects us to! Aameen!
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