By Swallehe Msuya

Hundreds of Minnesota Muslims congregated in mosques, convention halls and other designated places of worship for early morning prayers to mark the end of the holy month of fasting (Ramadhan). This year’s celebrations of Eid-el-Fitr fell on Tuesday & Wednesday after sighting the new lunar moon that officially marked the end of fasting.

Fasting during Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is observed by faithful believers across the globe numbering about 1.2 billion. During this month, the Holy Book of Islam –the Qur’an - was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (May the Peace of God Be Upon Him) as a guidance to lead mankind on a righteous path.

Muslims believe that the revelation of the Qur’an came on The Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) inside the month of Ramadhan and those who observe the days fasting and perform night supplication on that undisclosed night, their reward is greater than that of people who have been steadfast in prayer in 1,000 months (83 years)!

The other pillars of Islam are declaration of faith, Prayers (Salat) five times a day, Payment of Zakat (religious tax based on 2.5 % of annual income) and pilgrimage to the holy shrines of Islam in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Muslims observe Eid-el-Fitr by appearing in their best attire, by prayers, giving to charity, sharing good food and soft drinks with folks, visiting the sick and exchanging gifts and caring for orphans, widows and the less privileged in society.

The Imam of Masjid An-Nur (Mosque of The Light) on Lyndale Avenue North Minneapolis in his Eid-el-Fitr sermon to his congregation called on his fellow Muslims to make the Eid-el-Fitr occasion one of joy, happiness and compassion for all our community members.

Imam Makram said the month of Ramadhan enabled the believing Muslims to invest in their hereafter for God’s mercy, forgiveness of sin and protection from the torment of hell fire.

“It was a month of self-purification to enable the believers to reconnect with their Creator trusting on His promise of reward.”

He quoted a verse of the Qur’an in which Allah (God) says all the good deeds undertaken by mankind are for our own souls, “but fasting is Allah’s”. He said fasting gives the believers a shield to reject evil and be good to others as we go through “an exercise of obeying Allah, self-restraint in seeking God’s mercy.”

The Imam warned that believing Muslims should not aspire for God’s justice but His mercy and forgiveness as all human-beings are prone to making mistakes. It is His mercy and forgiveness that we must seek, he cautioned - for if we were to seek his justice, “no one would be safe.”
 
He said Muslims who have come through this spiritual journey of self-purification during the month of Ramadhan must carry forward the good deeds so that when “we leave this earth, we may leave behind a legacy of a loving and caring people.”

“Let us all celebrate this Eid-el-Fitr with a kind spirit. Smile, hug a friend; parents spend time with your children and make them happy. We should be in our best human behavior,   he said “as we do not know if we shall be around to celebrate another holiday like this one next year. EID MUBARAK!”

Another Muslim scholar while emphasizing the need for believers to give to charity during Eid-el-Fitr observed that by so doing, “not only are we fulfilling our religious duty, there is more - a feeling of belonging when the recipient and giver meet as the ideology of Islam teaches us to be compassionate.”

He concluded: “Let us therefore see to it that our deprived brethren welcome the day of Eid with warmth and hope.” EID MUBARAK!