Muslims mark end of fasting month with Eid festival

This week, Muslims around the world are celebrating the religious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadhan –– the holy month of fasting. 

The happiness experienced on this occasion is far deeper than that derived from the wearing of new clothes, eating, visiting friends, receiving presents and generally having a good time. 

No doubt these things do give some pleasure of a kind; but the delight of the soul refreshed generates an inner glow of happiness beyond description. 

Blessing

This Divine blessing may vary in degree, according to the spiritual devotion exercised during the holy month and through the sheer Grace of God. Righteousness flourishes through self-purification and this is the intention and purpose of fasting in the manner prescribed by Islam.

One meaning of Eid is a day in which people gather together, and this gives it a much deeper significance. Ordinarily a Muslim has to pray five times a day but on the day of Eid he is required to offer a special congregational prayer in the morning.

Islam is a religion of unity as it is preeminently of peace and love, unity of God as well as of man. 

God, being One and only One wants to make all men at one with Him, and Islam aims at uniting mankind as a string unites pearls. 

Every teaching of Islam has at its root this spirit of love, peace and unity. For Eid, Muslims gather together for prayer, standing in unity, leaving aside grudges and disagreements. 

Unity is loved by God and, thus, He also seeks to promote the same unity among all sections of Muslims in the world. 

As sections of the Muslim world tear each other to pieces, the real Eid of world peace and unity may look impossible to achieve. However, it must be remembered that the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had already prophesised 1,400 years ago that Islam’s true teachings will be lost. 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had clearly foretold that a time would come when Muslims would move far away from Islam’s original teachings and perpetrate horrific cruelties against their fellow Muslims and non-Muslims. 

“However, he also gave a great glad tiding by saying that at such a time of spiritual darkness, Allah’s Mercy and Compassion would once again encompass the world and He would send a Messiah and Mahdi, who would re-establish the pure teachings of Islam. We, Ahmadi Muslims believe that the Messiah and Mahdi has come and it was he who founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (India), enlightened the world with Islam’s true and original teachings.”  

This is quoted from His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Khalifa of Islam and Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 

Thus, it is only by accepting the Promised Messiah (as) that the Muslim world can hope to revive the true teachings of Islam. 

It is only by following this Messenger of God that Muslims can realize their dreams of unity, harmony and peace. 

The members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Bermuda convey Eid Mubarak and pray that this Eid may prove a blessing for all, God willing.