World-wide Celebrations End Ramadan with a Feast: Eid-al-Fitr
From Abu Dhabi to Zanzibar, Muslims end their 29 or 30 days of fasting with a celebration called Eid-al-Fitr. This feast comes at the end of Ramadan and in many places begins a three-day holiday.
In Jakarta, businesses and shops are closed and the usually gridlocked streets are nearly empty as about half the capital’s 12 million people leave the city for their hometowns.
The word Eid means recurring happiness or festivity in Arabic and Al-Fitr literally means the breaking the fast, hence Eid-al-Fitr. Muslims celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan, when Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sex during daylight hours. Eid-al-Fitr also ushers in the beginning of Shawwal or the tenth month in the Muslim calendar.
Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) and to attend a special Eid-al-Fitr prayer that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. When Muslims finish their fast at the last day (29th or 30th Ramadan), they recite Takbir.
There is a fair bit of disagreement on the day Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated due to moon sighting difficulties and interpretation. Confusion can come for individuals living in the western world, who, for example, may need to request vacation days in advance.
Many Christians have taken the opportunity to greet Muslims in friendship. Instead of focusing on differences, they have been telling their Muslim neighbors how they too as Christians fast and pray because they are “people of the book”. In some cases, this time of celebration among Muslims is used as an opportunity to witness to them. One young person said, “Muslims are so open right now and in a good mood, I can explain my faith to them without stirring tempers.” But the focus needs to be on building relationships. From these relationships God can open doors to speaking about the Good News.
Although Ramadan is over, the necessity for prayer and action towards Muslim’s continues.
Pray for Muslims that you know personally during this Eid-al-Fitr holiday. If Muslims invite you to participate in the festivities it is actually a great honour and usually a sure sign of their esteem, respect and friendship. Pray for wisdom and for the door to open so that relationships can be built. While it is easy to get into discussions about political and cultural issues, being a good neighbour is what you are called to be.
Recipe
Here is a recipe for Vermicelli Payasam, which is the name for a dessert often served at Eid ul-Fitr in India. Perhaps you can make a dessert for your Muslim neighbours.
- 250 gms vermicelli (very thin pasta), broken into smaller pieces
- 1 Cup of sugar
- 6 Cups of milk
- 2 Tablespoons broken cashews
- 2 Tablespoons of raisins
- ¼ Teaspoon of nutmeg
- ¼ Teaspoon of vanilla
- 5 Tablespoons of ghee or melted butter
Heat 3 tablespoons of ghee or butter in a frying pan to melt. Add the vermicelli and fry until golden. Add the milk and heat for 5 minutes. Add sugar, vanilla and nutmeg. Stir well and cook until the vermicelli is soft, but do not allow to boil. Heat remaining ghee or butter in another pan and fry the cashew nuts for 1 minute until golden. Add the raisins and sprinkle onto the payasam. Serve warm in small bowls.
Two years ago in Vancouver, Canada, I met Muslim students from Saudi Arabia. I became close to a few of them. Some come to study for only a few months and others stay for at least two or more years. I became friends to a few but there were at least five that I invited to come to church with me not all at once but separate times. Since these students are all from Saudi they have not been to church in their life. In my heart though I was hoping to just plant a seed. My prayer was just to introduce them to what Christianity is like not what they see on t.v. Wearing cross. They came with me. I told them that we are there to worship God. Their English is limited so I can see why the message did not get through or as a first timer everything is new. But my prayer is hopefully one day that experience will lead them to the Lord. I gave a Bible to these students when they went home. Each of these men brought it back to Saudi.
Out of this experience I realized that we can be an instrument to Muslim students.
My husband led our muslim washerman toChrist on October 13, 2007-just a day afrter the EID celebretion.
My husband encouraged him to attend a gospel church the following day, being a sunday; he went.
My husband has asked about 3 families in that church (including the pastor) to follow him up
I want to deeply thank you for helping me pray through this season. This has been a great tool.
God bless you
Thank you, thank you so very much!
Thank you so much for these comments about the mosque and the Dove church. What you said is so true- we need to be praying and sharing the love of Jesus with Muslims-not worrying about the location of their mosques. Time is short!
Thanks again for the 30 days prayer booklet-It has been great!
I agree with your idea of prayer, kindness etc BUT I do not think you have thought thru the idea of “Cordoba” and what it represents, the importance of 9/11 to all Americans and the extortion of the Imams statements.
We did not build a church on the Nagasaki ground zero or any other representative structure to flaunt our victories. A Shinto shrine was not built at Pearl Harbor etc. Rauf is a Mafia type who threatens our national security if they do not get their way!
Please do not mix “political correctness” or mis-placed sympathy with this event. To the Arab hardliner it IS a mark of conquest as in Jerusalem, Egypt, etc.
You realize that 32 Muslims died as victims of 9/11, among them passengers and first responders? You realize that the 17th story of the South Tower had a mosque in it? You realize that the Park 51 project is NOT a MOSQUE, nor is it located at Ground Zero (it is a few blocks away)? You realize that the building is a community center, only one floor of which will be dedicated to a mosque? You realize that the U.S. bombing of Nagasaki had nothing to do with religion? You realize that you also made a bigoted statement about Shinto practicers. You also realize that Arabs have lived in Egypt and Jerusalem for centuries? You realize that you made a racist state about Arabs (“Arab hardliners”), not all of whom are Muslim?
Just checking, seeing as you have made so many bigoted (and 1 racist) statement.
I fasted during Ramadan and used it as a means of communicating with my Muslim friends.
Yesterday I had coffee with a dear friend who is currently living in Dubai, but came back to Australia for a week, at the end of Ramadan. We had a wonderful hour together. At the end I asked how Ramadan was for him. He said that he got through the fasting by knowing that I was sharing the load with him.
PS. My prayer, many times each day was, “Lord, as Muslims pray during Ramadan, REVEAL yourself to them… the true and living God”. My friend Amer is a wonderful, beautiful man, who truly seeks to know God. My prayer is that he will encounter Isa and his life will be transformed… leading to a whole generation of more lives transformed.
we already worship the true and living God.
“Say he is God, the One. God the Eternal. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And He is comparable to none.”-Surah al Iklaas
Greetings of peace,
I have a simple and humble suggestion for all of the readers and commentators here that are so sure of their faith.
Please and please read Dr. Laurence Brown’s book – MisGod’ed and follow it up by the next one Goded
You may find something about Christianity and see Islam in a way that may not have considered before.
A humble invitation
I have found this link that I wanted to share with everybody, it is what muslims really believe about Jesus, it is a must read!!!
http://www.harunyahya.com/jesus01.php
Wow rupanya lebaran idul fitri di Irak seru juga ya…