By Fahmy bin Khalid al Harthy -
THE Sultanate will today celebrate the first day of Eid al Fitr after completing the month of Ramadhan. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos will perform the blessed Eid al Fitr prayers at Al Hisn Mosque in Salalah.
The Diwan of the Royal Court issued a statement yesterday announcing that His Majesty the Sultan will perform the Eid prayers at Al Hisn Mosque in Salalah on the first day of Shawwal 1431 Hijri year which marks the beginning of the happy days of the blessed Eid al Fitr.
On this happy occasion, the Diwan of the Royal Court offered Eid greetings and best wishes of good health and long life to His Majesty, and wishing many happy returns of the blessed occasion to the Omani people and Arab and Muslim nations.
Earlier, the Moon Sighting Committee announced that today (Friday) is the first day of Shawwal 1431 Hijri year and the first day of the blessed Eid al Fitr.
The committee met yesterday and issued a statement confirming the sighting of the new moon on Thursday 29th Ramadhan 1431 corresponding with September 9, 2010. The meeting was held to verify moon sighting reports received by the committee.
It was chaired by Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmy, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The committee members were His Eminence Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad al Khalili, the Sultanate’s Grand Mufti, Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Shaikh Dr Abdullah bin Rashid al Siyabi, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court, and Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Khateeb, Judge of the Supreme Court in Salalah.
The committee received reports confirming the sighting of the crescent moon from Sur, Shinas, Adam, Nizwa and Haima.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs extended Eid al Fitr greetings to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos wishing His Majesty long life and good health. The ministry also wished well-being for the Omani people and Islamic world.
Meanwhile, Eid al Fitr — the most joyous three-day celebration of the year in the Islamic calendar — begins today in the Sultanate and many parts of the world with usual enthusiasm, reverence and gaiety.
Oman Daily Observer congratulates dear brothers and sisters, the great Omani nation, and the Islamic Ummah on this auspicious occasion which comes after a month-long fasting.
During these three-day celebrations, close to two billion Muslims around the world develop and deepen bonds of brotherhood, togetherness, unity, harmony, and spread goodwill in society.
In the Sultanate, Omani and expatriate Muslims, attired in their best clothes, converge at mosques at the crack of dawn for Eid prayers.
They offer thanks-giving Eid prayers together; exchange greetings after the prayers; embrace one another and visit homes of their relatives and friends. On this auspicious occasion, sweets are served to guests and alms offered to the needy and oppressed people, thus generating goodwill, unity and harmony among the people of different races, cultures, languages and schools of thoughts.
“Eid” means “recurring happiness” and “Fitr” means “alms” for the needy and poor. Charity is an integral part of almost all Islamic events. Every member of a Muslim household is under religious obligation to give alms to needy people before proceeding to join the Eid prayer. The head of the family pays this amount on behalf of each person in the family. If a person could not fast in the month of Ramadhan (for instance, because of illness) he/she has to pay alms for each fasting day.
Arriving after a month-long fasting, Eid al Fitr makes one deeply conscious of the difficulties and discomforts suffered by the less fortunate people. It thus kindles in man a spirit of sacrifice leading to empathy and generosity towards oppressed people. A prominent feature of the festival is the giving of Zakat al Fitr wherein the devout generously extend alms to needy and less privileged people.
On this auspicious day, our beloved leader His Majesty Sultan Qaboos exchanges cables of greetings with many heads of states of the Arab and Islamic countries, wishing them continued good health, happiness and long life and continued progress and prosperity for their peoples.
Just as they shared food and drinks at Iftar and Sahur with the fellow citizens and residents during the month of Ramadhan, people share happiness with friends and family members by giving Ayood (monetary gifts) to the juniors and especially to children, and alms to the needy and poor.
Traditional foods and sweets prepared and served on this occasion add to the charm of the festival and bring goodwill in society. Some of the traditional dishes include Arsiya — a porridge of rice and mutton and shuwa, involving chunks of spice-smeared meat cooked slowly in an underground hearth.
Harees, Mashakeek (barbecue), mararah, Kumoniya and dhala are other common special delicacies that find favour in Omani homes.
Like in other Islamic events and festivals, there is no place for dance and music during Eid celebrations. During the Eid celebrations, public Eid parties (Eid Milan), sports events such as horse riding, camel races and Eid exhibitions are hosted to entertain people.
Essentially, the key constituents of Eid al Fitr are paying of Zakatul Fitr, offering Eid prayers, chanting Takbeer and being happy for graduating from the seminary of Ramadhan.
Unity is a recurring theme in all Islamic festivals and institutions. Eid al Fitr plays a key role in developing and deepening a wave of awakening and awareness in the world of Islam about the need to cement unity and support oppressed people of the world.
Allah, the Exalted, says in the Glorious Quran that Islam, which brings people from darkness into light, is for the entire humanity and that it brings people together and thwarts divisive forces
Eid al Fitr is one of the key events in the world of Islam that underlines the importance of unity and shared values.
The celebrations remind people that love, compassion, brotherhood, prosperity and stability in the world of Islam depend on a clear sense of shared objectives and shared responsibilities. Eid celebrations deepen the strong sense of shared values for holding the world of Islam together in unity. (With inputs from ONA)