Eid gets underway with renewed hope, prayers, feasting and joy

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com    

Mosques, places of worship, prayer grounds, and homes all across the Kingdom reverberated with the sounds of prayers yesterday as celebrations of Eid Al-Fitr got underway with festivities, feasts and family gatherings.

Citizens and residents offered their prayers and listened to sermons on the spiritual values of Eid Al-Fitr, as they celebrated the completion of their spiritual journey and thanked Allah for his blessings.

As the past festivals were celebrated quietly due to Covid-19 restrictions, there was added excitement among people as they greeted family members and friends at the mosques. Several exchanged greetings, shared meals and engaged in charitable activities.

Eid this year also had the rarity of falling on Friday, which is already an important day, with people seeing it as a double blessing all around the globe. The day was an opportunity to attend the Eid prayers in the morning and then participate in the Friday prayers in the afternoon, enhancing the strength of joy and unity.

Yesterday, even after the prayers, several gathered at the mosque to celebrate the festival with gaiety. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other countries announced on Thursday that Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan would begin on Friday.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Sudan also announced Eid al-Fitr would start on Friday. Oman said it would start Eid today, as Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Yesterday, in Bahrain, in their sermons, khateebs wished His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom and its loyal people, further security, progress and prosperity, under HM the King’s leadership.

It's worth knowing that Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of Ramadan, the month-long period of fasting and spiritual reflection.

According to Islamic tradition, the first Eid Al Fitr was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions in Medina, Saudi Arabia, after they had completed their first Ramadan fast.

Over the years, Eid Al Fitr has evolved into a major cultural event and is now celebrated with prayers, feasts, and a range of festive activities, including exchanging gifts, visiting friends and family, and donating to charity. It's also a time for people to reinforce their commitment to the values of Islam, including compassion, generosity, and unity.