Let Eid strengthen fraternity

For a Muslim, Eid is a day of thanksgiving. On the day of Eid, fasting is forbidden since this day marks the end of the month-long fast. In the morning of Eid, Muslims are encouraged to enjoy a sweet snack such as dates. Other practices on this special day include bathing and adorning oneself in new or one’s best clothes. Muslims celebrate Eid by expressing thanks to Allah by means of distributing alms among the poor and needy and offering special prayers. On this day, gifts are also given to children and loved ones. Eid ul-Fitr is the first of two holidays in Islam, second holiday is called Eid ul-Adha and falls on the 10th day of Thul Hijjah, which is the 12th month and occurs during the Hajj.

Muslims are also encouraged on this day to forgive and forget any differences or past animosities that may have occured with others during the year.

BANGLADESHIS like Muslims elsewhere in the globe would be celebrating the joyous occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday or Saturday depending on the sighting of the moon. Traditionally, wearing of attractive dress, eating sumptuously and engaging in fun and frolics, are considered as spending well the time of Eid. But it is a sad reality that Eid's happiness still remains largely out of the reach of the vast majority of the poor who comprise about half of the population. They also do attempt to eat well and provide some recreation to their families by mobilising their meagre resources at the time of Eid. But a great many of them remain deprived of even the minimum of self-satisfaction on Eid day due to their abject poverty.

Thus, Eid as a religious festival would come as a happy occasion for all only if Islam's cardinal teaching to build a caring and sharing society by maximising of social welfare activities is adhered to. The mandatory Islamic religious charity, Zakat, is paid scantily and disproportionately compared to the real wealth by the rich in many cases. This needs to change through conscious policies on the part of citizens, the government, religious groups and others who should build a vigorous campaign exhorting well-off people to give Zakat adequately in proportion to the wealth held by them.

If this can be accomplished, then only it would be possible to have a vast Zakat fund running into many billions of Taka annually and the resources from it can be spent on welfare of the poor. Therefore, the real challenge for all in Bangladesh is to establish Islam - as it should be - so that every Eid can be a truly happy occasion for the greatest number of people.