Universal F(e)ast of UNITY

Is Eid-al Fitr just for our Muslim brothers? Do we celebrate on their one of the important and symbolic feast?

People around the world may have different ways in celebrating the feast but we just have one goal- to thank and praise God. In the Philippines, particularly here in Cebu, the feast is a non-working holiday for the Filipinos showing respect to our Muslim brothers. It is recognized by the Philippine government as a regular holiday. The first commemoration of this holiday occurred on Dec. 6, 2002.

Other Filipinos went to the mosques and sharing traditional food as a thanksgiving to their God for allowing them to abide by their religious duties and to uphold peace and unity among Islam's faithful. Eid-al Fitr is a unique festival. It has no connection with any historical event nor it is related changes of seasons or cycles of agriculture.

The “Feast of Breaking the Fast” is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It is a three-day worldwide festival that started Monday this year. The holiday begins with revelers waking up before scorching heat smile of the sunrise, brushing their teeth for fresh breathing, taking showers for refreshing, and then putting on their best clothes. After the solemn Eid prayer, family and friends celebrate together, while children are given small gifts and treats.

“Eid” in Arabic means festivity while “fitr” is denoted from the Arabic word iftar which mean breaking the fast. This festivity rooted way back 610 A.D., almost 600 years, when Prophet Mohammed saw an angel, angel Jibril, the messenger of Allah. Jibril guided Mohammed in writing the verses of wisdom which later became the code of conduct of Islam, popularly known as the holy book of ‘Quran’. Mohammed said that God taught him all the verses of wisdom exactly on the month of Ramadan. Because of this, Mohammed told and asked all Muslims to observe Ramadan as the month of offering prayers and sacrifices to Allah to show their deepest gratitude.

Its significance is purely spiritual. It is the day when the Muslims thank Allah for having given them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe fast and obey His commandment during the holy month of Ramadan. It brought rejoicing and happiness in Muslim world. The rejoicing is not, however at the departure of Ramadan; it is the happiness which man feels after successfully completing an important task.

For Muslims, Eid al Fitr is the occasion for showing gratitude to God. The religion tries to strengthen the highest qualities of the human character; materialism strives to make him the slave of the lowest animal instincts degrading him to the level of the beasts. On this day, special prayers are held around the world over, between sunrise and noon when the Muslims assemble, in large congregations, wearing their best dresses standing shoulder to shoulder, demonstrating for everyone the universal brotherhood.

Brotherhood also came in when Muslims and Christians have some conflicts here in our country. But that story was just a history for us, a history that innovates to the reality of respect and unity with one another- lowering of prides, respecting each individual and empowering everyone’s lives.

Moreover, I believed that this feast is a tool of unity in the country and in the world because it is not only for the Muslims but for all of us, showing our heartily praise to our God and giving our hearts and souls to Him as we deny ourselves through Him and in Him. This feast is just similar to our other feast. It is not all about religion but on having the same God- as brothers and sisters.

Let us re-dedicate our life to the cause of humanity, which is the best way to demonstrate our love of God. Let us decide that, in the coming year, we will build a social order which would bring not only the material benefits, but also the spiritual satisfaction as we celebrate – the universal feast of Unity.