A TRUE EID MUBARAK

By: HADHRAT MUFTI MOHAMMED TAQI SAHEB UTHMAANI

DAAMAT BARAKAATUHUM

A treatise on the true essence of a Mubarak Eid

Translated by: Moulana Yusuf Laher

 ِ ٰ ‫ِالس ََل ُمِ َع‬
ِ،ِ‫ل َِر ُسولِاهلل‬ َّ ‫ِالص ََلةِ َُو‬
َّ ‫بِسِمِِاهلل َِو‬
A short treatise on the true essence of a Mubarak Eid by Hadhrat
Mufti Mohammed Taqi Saheb Uthmaani Daamat Barakaatuhum.

Hadhrat explains that if certain changes take place in a person then

he is entitled to have a blessed Eid. On the other hand, if no positive
changes took place, then he should ponder as to why no changes
took place.

May Allah Ta’aala grant us Taufeeq, Aameen.

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 
Every nation and creed stipulate certain days of the year to celebrate.
This is sometimes termed as a ‘festival’. Every nation celebrates their
festivals in different ways but the common factor among all is ‘to
celebrate’.

A human is such that sometimes he becomes bored with regular

routine, thus he looks forward to such days wherein he can move
away from routine and free his mind and heart. He desires to spend
some time freely; laughing and merrymaking. The disposition of man
has created these festivals and it results in those festivals becoming a
hallmark of nations respectively.

When Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam made Hijrah from

Makkah Mukarramah to Madinah Munawwarah, he observed the
people celebrating two particular days. Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi
wa Sallam said: Allah Ta’aala has replaced those with two excellent
days; the one is Eidul Fitr and the other is Eidul Adhaa.

Thus, these two days have been stipulated for the Muslim Ummah to
rejoice. In this there is consideration for the natural disposition of
man and there are also many practical lessons with regard to
celebrating them.

Usually when nations stipulate certain days, it is because of some link

with their history; something significant that happened in the past.
As an example: Christmas is celebrated in commemoration of the

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birth of Hadhrat Eesaa Alayhis Salaam (although the truth is no one
knows when he was born). Another example is the Passover of the
Jews. This is the day they received salvation from the atrocities and
slavery of the Pharaoh. Similarly, Hindus have certain festival days in
commemoration of certain events of the past.

There is no shortage of such days in Islamic history that can be

celebrated collectively. One of the most auspicious days is the day
the leader of the worlds Hadhrat Mohammed Mustafa Sallallaahu
Alayhi wa Sallam was born, or the day he received the mantle of
prophethood, and he started receiving the final Divine message to
come to this world, in the form of the Noble Qur’aan. This day is
undoubtedly honourable and blessed in which he made Madinah
Munawwarah his residence and laid the foundation of an Islamic
state. Similarly, what can be said about the day the three hundred
and thirteen ill-equipped soldiers of Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa
Sallam who were willing to sacrifice their lives defeated a fully
equipped army? This is the same day the Qur’aan calls Yaumul
Furqaan – the day truth and falsehood were clearly distinguished.
Also, can you imagine the joy on the day Makkah was conquered and
the words of the Adhaan by Hadhrat Bilaal Radhiyallaahu Anhu
reverberated from the roof of the Ka’bah for the first time?

Anyway, there is no shortage of such incidents in the pristine life of

Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam which Muslims can use as a
basis for celebration. In fact, every day in the life of Rasulullah
Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam was unique and great and in which the
Muslims received something related to Deen or Dunya from him.

The unique feature of Islam is that it did not choose any of those
days. Rather, based on religious importance, it chose the 1st of
Shawwaal and the 10th of Dhul Hijjah annually. These two dates are
not really linked to any specific happening in history only.

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These two days are on such occasions wherein the entire Ummah
just completed two congregational forms of Ibaadah and both are
done once a year.

Eidul Fitr is celebrated on such an occasion when the Muslims have

not only completed the Fardh duty of fasts during the month of
Ramadhaan, they also underwent spiritual training in this month and
ignited their souls.

Eidul Adhaa is celebrated on the occasion of another annual Ibaadah,

i.e. the fulfilment of Haj. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather
on the plains of Arafah, pray for forgiveness from their Lord and start
a new era in their lives. Those who are not in Haj will fulfil the
Ibaadah of Qurbani (Udhiyyah).

So, Islam did not choose days of celebration which are merely in
commemoration of past events, rather, it chose days linked to
Muslims current situations and it is renewed annually. The reason is:
important events of the past became a part of that past. To
remember them is vital because futures are built on them and they
serve as examples and lessons for the future, but to constantly
remain in the past makes one become negligent of the present and
future. Sometimes it makes nations negligent of their duties and
responsibilities (they do not progress) and they will have to listen to
this criticism:

! ‫ہاتھ پر ہاتھ دھرے منت ظر فردا ہو‬ ‫تھ‬

? ‫ے تو آبا وہ ت مہارے ہی مگر تم ک یا ہو‬

Yes, they are your ancestors but what has happened to you?

You are just sitting with your hands folded (and not achieved
anything)

So, by not linking the Eids to a past happening we are taught a

valuable lesson. That lesson is you have the right to celebrate on only

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such things which you personally and currently achieved and not
merely on the achievements of your ancestors.

Every Eid demands that we ponder over our current condition and
our actions and whether we are truly entitled to celebrate and
rejoice. In reality, Eidul Fitr is the reward of the spiritual course we
underwent in Ramadhaan. Therefore, in Hadeeth it has been referred
to as Yaumul Jaa’izah – the day of prize giving. So, this day is
demanding that we take stock of ourselves as to whether we truly
were successful in that spiritual course? Did our connection with
Allah Ta’aala really increase? Did we start fulfilling the rights of
others? Was trustworthiness, control of the Nafs and passion for
good deeds kindled in our hearts? Did we make a firm intention of
eradicating the social evils around us? Did we make a firm resolution
to save ourselves from those evils? Did we intend to end all fights
and arguments and decide to become united, just as we seem one
and united in the Eidgah?

If a person takes stock of himself and at least answers a few of these

questions positively, then definitely his Eid will be Mubarak (blessed).

َّ ‫َر َّبناِ َت َق َّبلِمنَّاِان ََّكِ َان َت‬

ِ‫ِالسمي ُعِال َعليم‬

َ ‫ل َِخْي َِخلقهِ ُم‬

ِِ‫ـح َّمد‬ ِ ٰ ‫ِع‬ِ ٰ ‫ِص َّلِاهللُِ َت َع‬
َ ‫ال‬ َ ‫َو‬

َ ‫ِصحبهِ َاج‬
ِِ‫ـمعي‬ َ ‫ِ َوِِٰال‬
َ ‫هِو‬

َّ ‫ـمت َكِيآِ َار َح َم‬

ِ،ِ‫ِالراحـمي‬ َ ‫ب َرح‬
Sha’baan 1440

April 2019