Eid Mubarak to our beautiful UD family! Alhamdulilah for the blessings of the sacred month of Ramadan. This past month has been filled with spiritual growth and reflection for us all. During this time, we grew closer and stronger to one another for the sake of our faith and community. May Allah (swt) be pleased with what we’ve offered and accept our fasts. With the glow of the crescent, we await the joy of Eid. How merciful is Allah (swt), after our hearts have fasted, our souls may rejoice and enjoy His (swt) sweet bounty.
Eid al Fitr means the celebration of breaking the fast. This is one of the two yearly Eid celebrations and is known as the little Eid. The celebrations begin after the sighting of the new crescent moon, indicating the end of the month of Ramadan. We spend this day in celebration with one another, for our month long of worship and spiritual reset. In the morning, we head to our mosques and pray the Eid prayer in congregation. Through this prayer we express our gratitude and excitement for the endless blessings bestowed upon us by Allah (swt), standing shoulder to shoulder, as one united Ummah.
In preparation for Eid, Muslims offer charity, known as zakat- al- fitr. The donation must be given before Eid in order for it to be distributed to those in need prior to the Eid Prayer. In doing so, Muslims promote equality amongst their brothers and sisters and it ensures that everyone can take part in the Eid festivities. It’s an obligation upon every able Muslim to pay this zakat and was narrated by the Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Giving this zakat can even make up for some shortcomings during the month of Ramadan. May Allah (swt) be pleased with us all and forgive us for our shortcomings.
Observing Eid, Muslims around the world dress in nice clothing, visit their friends and family, and share the joy of the holiday. Some families like to share meals and others like to give each other gifts. The holiday is usually only celebrated for one day, but in some places it’s tradition to extend the celebrations for three days. Depending on the community, there may be some communal Eid celebrations typically geared towards younger children. They’ll have meals to be shared with each other and games for the kids to play.
This past Ramadan has been one of immense blessings and warm gathering. We are so incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to share the experience with you all. Thank you to everyone who joined us in creating Ramadan cards in the library, celebrating MSA week and at the Ramadan Celebration Iftar. Your presence was greatly appreciated and we hope we can continue to provide you with these experiences. Thank you to MEC, Campus Dining and our faculty who’ve been more than accommodating as we observed our sacred month. And we are especially grateful to Campus Ministry, for offering us their endless support in enjoying a comfortable Ramadan.
