The festival has a very special significance for the Muslims all over the world. In Mauritius, muslims  get busy almost after the moon is sighted on the eve and they start preparations for the next day.

This  means getting the meat ready for the traditional “Bryani” that will be the main dish for the day, along with other delicacies, which include the irresistible sweet, tasty vermicelli. Gifts are also neatly wrapped for kids and new clothes are readied for each member of the family.

Says Maulana (spiritual chief) Abdul Habib Attaaree of ‘Masjid-e-Munawwar’mosque, La Caverne No2, Vacoas, “the eve of Eid is a blessed night known as ‘Inaam ki Raat’, meaning the gifted night and that Eid is a gift from God to Muslims.”

He adds that on that day “ Allah sends his angels on the roads to give to those attending the Eid prayer the gifts of mercy, forgiveness and blessings.”

However, he warns that after keeping the fast during the Ramadan period, one should not  believe that one is “completely free to do as one pleases” and thus revert to sins. “This is a bad attitude indeed. Those who commit such  acts incur the wrath of  Allah,” he says, adding, “Muslims must continue to fast each week on Monday and Thursday, even after Ramadan—a  practice adopted by the last prophet.”

The Maulana says the blessed month of Ramadan is time to bring change in oneself,  in the house and to abstain from sins in life and to be accountable for one’s actions.

Eid, being a day of rejoicing and of thanksgiving to Allah, Muslims on that morning are encouraged to enjoy something sweet like dates or vermicelli. Other practices on that day include taking a complete bath, wearing new clothes or the best ones, applying Attar (perfume) and Surma (kohl) to the eyes and for men to offer special prayers in the mosque. It is then compulsory for everyone to greet and embrace each other .  Muslim women, on the other hand, perform the Eid prayer at their respective homes.

Besides the religious aspects, Eid is a very cheerful occasion for all Muslims as it represents personal jubilance, a victory over self-control and chastity, illustrating salvation and rejuvenation. It is also  time to forget past enmity or fights and forgive everyone. 

 The Eid prayer is offered in every mosque. After that people visit their friends and relatives and exchange gifts. Some people also pay visits to graveyards to remember their loved ones and clear the graves of over-growth.
Fitrah (charity) is also  part of Eid . Those who can do it, offer about two kilograms of basic foodstuffs such as raisins, barley, sugar, milk, dates, wheat etc, or an equivalent amount of cash. This is given to the poor and needy before the Eid prayer.

Night

of destiny
 “I am thankful to my Lord and to all those who stretch out a helping hand to me in that sacred month”, says Mandarin Soulma, of La Caverne No 1, Vacoas, who lives in a one-room corrugated iron house, and depends on Government pension to pay her monthly rent. 

She  celebrated Eid alone “in the company of God”. Her  sister who is married  visited her the next day.
During the fasting time, she says, many people  helped her. “Some provided me with groceries while others paid my rent,” she adds.

Aboo Bachun, of Bassin road ,Highlands, says  the month of fasting was spiritually enlightening for him and his whole family. He adds that the moment Ramadan started,  he was able to spend  more time immersed in his five daily prayers while gaining the opportunity to make long and rewarding supplication to his Lord. He says the experience  has been rewarding.

Aboo used to get up at 3h30 everyday to prepare the sehri ( blessed food)  to be taken before starting his fast, along with his wife , son, daughter-in-law and a five-year-old grandson.

He says the 27th night of Ramadan is of utmost importance to every Muslim. It is known as Lailatoul-Qadr which means the night of destiny or fate and it is during this same night that the holy Qur’an was first revealed. Any Muslim who remains awake and makes supplication to his Lord on this particular night is rewarded with 1000 months of devotion which equals to 80 years.

Hence those possessing so many virtues will be surely forgiven by their Lord.

Helping the needy
Mufti Muhammad Ishaq Al Qadri Al Rizvi,  Director of Dar ul Ifta, Jummah Mosque, Port Louis, says there are currently 1.4 billion people who live well below the poverty line  and that almost half of the world population live on less than Rs 75/ a day.

Poverty is thus a major problem causing the death of 25 000 children everyday in the world.  He welcomes one of the measures that the Government of Mauritius has taken in order to combat  poverty and  support charitable causes through  the introduction of a compulsory Corporate Social Responsibility Levy of 2.5 % on profits . For  Muslims, he says, social responsibility is  an undisputed part of their faith.

That is why the teachings of Islam have placed obligations as well as recommendations on  Muslims to help the poor and the needy. For instance, the  Zakaat (the giving of 2.5% of all our wealth in cash or by other means) is an obligation imposed on all Muslims (as well businesses) who possess wealth to give away every year to those in need with the intention to combat poverty. Sadqua e fitr (equivalent of one day’s food- minimum Rs 75/) is to be given to those in need during Ramadan or on the day of Eid, before Eid prayer.
Islam also encourages the practice of charity for the benefit of the community
at large.