Why do we celebrate Eid?
Is it just for the fact that Ramadan has now ended? And because now we can eat and drink like we used to? And the long Taraweehs and nights of worship have come to an end?
In the ayah about Ramadan, Allah tells us the real reason why we celebrate Eid.
وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“….to declare Allah’s greatness for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” Suratul Baqarah, 187
These are the words Allah tells us after saying that He swt wants us to complete the count of Ramadan. We are completing that count of fasting and worship of an entire month, to declare Allah’s greatness because He guided us and so that we become grateful to Him.
Now the question is, why are we declaring Allah’s greatness?
Because we realized His greatness in our lives more than ever before in the month of Ramadan. We realized His greatness in the fact that we became so close to Him and His worship than any other month and we know that it’s only because He guided us to do so. We realized that it’s only Allah Who gave our hearts the strength to give up our basic needs during the day just for Him. We realized that it’s only Him Who allowed us to pray in the night, make dua and do good deeds like we never did before.
Hence, we are grateful for Him. For this realization. For the guidance He gave us in Ramadan. From that guidance, we now have the strength to continue doing good deeds even outside of Ramadan. Some of us may not have been able to do as much worship as we wished to, during Ramadan due to circumstances. But all of us, did something extra even if it’s a little bit on a few days. Hold onto the extra little bit.
Perhaps you made a habit of reciting Quran every day. Do the same even outside of Ramadan, even if it’s a little bit. Perhaps you got into the habit of praying on time in Ramadan, hold onto that. Perhaps you got into a habit of giving charity and helping others in Ramadan, hold onto it, even if it’s a little bit. Perhaps you started learning more about Allah and His deen in Ramadan, hold onto it, even if it’s a little bit. Because at the end of the day, these little things are a part of the guidance that Allah gave us. And this Eid is the day we are being grateful for that guidance. Perhaps this gratitude and trying to hold on to that guidance, will increase us further in guidance In Sha Allah.
May Allah allow us to retain the guidance He gave us in Ramadan even outside of that blessed month. May Allah accept our good deeds and forgive us for our shortcomings. Ameen!
