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In this day and age, many Muslims eagerly await the end of Ramadaan and the coming of Eid-ul-Fitr to gain their ‘freedom’ in order to go back to committing sin and disobeying Allah Ta’ala, Allah forbid. Many people are also neglectful and heedless of the last night before Eid and waste the opportunity to gain the reward for all the efforts made during the holy month of Ramadaan. Instead of bidding farewell to this Month of Mercy with sadness and grief, some people quickly bid farewell not only to the month, but also to their good actions and good habits formed during this month; and thus they return to their worldly lives with heedlessness.
The night of Eid is referred to as Lailatul Jaaizah (The Night of Reward). Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has stated, “Whosoever stood (to offer prayer) in the nights of Eid (Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha) in order to earn reward, his heart will not die on the day when the hearts (of people) will die. {Sunan Ibn Majah}
In another narration, Hazrat Mu’az bin Jabal (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates, “The one who spends the following five nights worshipping Allah Ta’ala will surely enter Jannah – the nights of the 8th, 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the night of Eid-ul-Fitr, and the 15th night of Shabaan (Shab-e-Baraat).” {At-Targheeb Wat-Tarheeb}
The final night of Ramadaan is the night for collecting the rewards for all the good that was done throughout the month. If we are neglectful of Allah Ta’ala on this night, then our efforts of the whole month might go wasted. We should therefore try as much as possible to busy ourselves in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, even if it is for a portion of the night.
Before the advent of Eid-ul-Fitr we need to introspect and ask ourselves, “Have we respected and honoured the month of Ramadaan as we should have? Did we make as much Ibaadat as possible or did we waste time neglectfully?” If our answer is that we did the best we could have, we must make Shukr to Allah Ta’ala for granting us the Taufeeq and ability to perform such Ibaadat in His Court. If our answer is that we could have done more, we must seek forgiveness for the precious time that we wasted and make a firm intention to make more Ibaadat next year In Sha Allah, if Allah Ta’ala Wills for us to observe another Ramadaan.
Regarding Eid-ul-Fitr, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “When the month of Ramadaan is over, and the night of Eid-ul-Fitr has arrived, that night is called the Night of Reward. Then, in the early morning of Eid-ul-Fitr Allah Ta’ala will send His angels forth to visit all the towns and cities on the earth below. Once they have made their descent, they will position themselves at the entrances to all the streets and alleys. There, in a voice that is audible to every being created by Allah Ta’ala, apart from the jinn and humankind, they will issue a proclamation saying, “O Community of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), come forth into the presence of the Noble and Generous Lord, who will grant you gifts in abundance and forgive your terrible sin!”
Then when the believers have emerged and presented themselves at their place of prayer, Allah Ta’ala will say to His angels, “O My angels, what is the recompense of the hired labourer, once he has done his job?” The angels will reply, “Our Lord and our Master, You will pay him his wages in full!” So Allah Ta’ala will say, “I now call upon you to bear witness, O My angels, that I have conferred My acceptance and My forgiveness as the reward for their fasting and night vigil during the month of Ramadaan.” Allah Ta’ala will then say, “O My servants put your requests to Me now, for this I swear by My Might and My Majesty, you will not ask Me this day, in this gathering of yours for anything connected with your life hereafter, without My granting it to you; nor for anything connected with your life in this lower world, without My attending to your need. By My Might and My Majesty, I will not put you to shame, nor will I expose you to disgrace amongst those who are faithfully committed to observing the laws (of Shariah). Now you may depart, knowing that you have been forgiven. You have won My approval, and I am well pleased with you.”” {Ghuniyatut Taalibeen} SubhanAllah!
If we study the lives of the Blessed Companions and our pious predecessors we will see that even though they used to worship extensively in the month of Ramadaan, they would still feel regret and sorrow on the day of Eid. They were also constantly worried about the fact of whether or not they had fulfilled the rights of Ramadaan.
It is reported that on the day of Eid some people came to the house of Hazrat Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to greet him but the door was closed and they could hear the sound of crying emanating from the house. When the door opened, they asked surprisingly, “O Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen! Today is Eid and everyone is delighted, why are you crying?” He replied, “O People! This is the day of Eid (celebration) as well as the day of Wa’eed (warning)! I do not know whether my worship has been accepted or rejected!” Indeed it is the day of celebration for the one whose Salaah and fasts have been accepted but it is the day of warning for the one whose Salaah and fasting have been rejected and thrown at his face. {Faizaan-e-Ramadaan}
That Hazrat Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala ‘Anh) who was given the glad tidings of Jannah and about whom Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that his good deeds are equivalent to the number of stars in the sky, is crying upon reflecting as to whether his fasts have been accepted or not. Allahu Akbar! And yet sinners like us are absolutely carefree and heedless of our actions!
Once, on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr a man entered the presence of Hazrat Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and found him eating coarse brown bread. “Today is the day of Eid, yet here you are, eating coarse brown bread!” the man exclaimed. So Hazrat Ali Al Murtaza (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) replied to the visitor saying, “Today is the day of Eid for someone whose fast has been accepted, whose effort has been deemed worthy, and whose sin has been forgiven. Today is Eid for us, and tomorrow is Eid for us. Every day in which we do not disobey Allah Ta’ala is an Eid for us.”
Commenting on this incident, Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam Hazrat Sayyiduna Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) says that it is therefore important for every intelligent person to stop focusing on the external aspect, and not to let it capture his attention. His perspective on the day of Eid should be from the standpoint of contemplation and reflection. {Ghuniyatut Taalibeen}
In fact Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) himself expressed fear and humility on the occasion of Eid and stated, “People are saying “Tomorrow is Eid! Tomorrow is Eid!” And everyone is happy, but the day when I leave this world with my faith will actually be the day of Eid for me.” {Faizaan-e-Ramadaan}
We should therefore bid farewell to the blessed month of Ramadaan with sorrow and grief, and we should celebrate Eid by rejoicing at the Mercies of Allah Ta’ala, remembering Allah Ta’ala and contemplating over our deeds and Hereafter.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to continue with the enthusiasm of worship we developed during this month and to continue seeking the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, Allahumma Ameen.
