mh52+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mohamed Adzlee Harun) (04/23/91)
EID MUBARAK to everyone. May God accept all our good deeds and forgive all our sins. Indeed the people who have the real right to celebrate the Eid festival are those who have truly persevered in worship to God, disregarded their selfish desires and patiently endured hardship. For these people , the beginning of Ramadhan is Mercy, the middle is Forgiveness and the end of it is Salvation from hell-Fire. The Eid Festival should be the end of our ignorance and the increase of our obidience to God, NOT our disobidience to Him. We must be fresh in our devotion and determination to work for God. We must not deceive ourselves again with the pleasures and comforts of the world. The Prophet(peace be upon him) said, "Enhance the days of the Festival with good works. Beautify them with charity, supplication, pleas for forgiveness, reconciliation and reciatation of the Quran. Avoid all that is evil. Be in piety and righteousness. Occupy yourselves with glorification of God and affirmation of His Oneness. For on that day He has cleansed you of your sins. He accepts your supplication and looks mercifully upon you." It is easy to forget the true meaning of the Festival.... Let us all remind ourselves that celebrating the Festival is not simply a matter of putting new clothes, new decorations, etc for the purpose of riyaa'(showing-off). Those who celebrate by merely dressing up, engaging in ma'siat(corruption) such as mixing freely of men and women, attending 'parties' with dancing, alcohol, and indulging their lower selves without obidience or worship or regard for the approval of God will be left with nothing more than their worldly festivities. On that Dreadful Day, when the believers and faithful lovers enjoy the Feast of Eternity, these poor wretches will be in mourning. For them, that Day will be a day of endless agony and torment. The Messenger (pbh) has told us that those who fast and his fasting is accepted by God, they become as innocent as on the day they left their mother's womb. They celebrate the TRUE Festival........ This is a reminder to all especially to myself. May we continue to seek Forgiveness from God and strive to earn His Bless and Pleasure.