Citizens and residents of the Sultanate of Oman are in an elated mood as they celebrate the first day of Eid Al Fitr of the Hijri year 1444 today.
In Islam, Zakat Al Fitr is an obligatory form of alms-giving required of every able Muslim at the end of Ramadhan, but before the dawn of Eid. The purpose of Zakat Al Fitr is to enable poor people to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, the festival to break the fast of Ramadhan.
In Oman, Eid prayer is held from 6.30 am after finishing Zakat Al Fitr before the dawn and children receive sweets and Eidiya while elders exchange Eid wishes with each other.
Houses have been painted long before Eid, new clothes were stitched and decors, lanterns made their presence felt in the houses running to the big day of a believer after 30 days of fasting.
Dr P Mohammed Ali, CMD of Galfar and National University says “Eid is a celebration and opportunity for strengthening social and cultural bond as well as strengthening the family bond by exchange of gifts and introducing the children to traditional culture.”
Rayees Ahmed, educationist and entrepreneur, says Eid is a time we connect with family and friends. “For some of us, whose children are far away during Eid, we all meet together and enjoy each others company. Friends from far and near connect and wish each other Eid greetings thus making this day a unique experience of bonding”, he adds.
“Eid is a day to cheer and to laugh with all your heart. It’s a day to be grateful to Almighty Allah for all of His heavenly blessings on us. Eid is the time for sharing what we have with others as this day symbolises virtues like patience, piety, godliness and fortitude,” says C M Najeeb.
According to the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Eid is a day of celebration as those who observed the fast during Ramadhan receive the rewards of rigorous spiritual discipline and month-long worship.
In Islam, Eid Al Fitr is important because it was a festival began by the Prophet and it is also a time when families wear new clothes and gather to catch up and spend quality time together. Parents or grandparents tend to give gifts, such as money and sweets to the children.
Five Jumua prayers in Ramadhan, after 8 years:
This is the first time after a long gap of 8 years that the believers are blessed with 5 Fridays in Ramadhan and at the last Jumua prayer on Friday, the Imams (those who lead prayers at mosques) urged people to follow the Taqwa (In Arabic it means forbearance, fear of Allah Almighty and abstinence from evil in the rest of life). The last Jumua prayer also reiterated people to be God-fearing, God-conscious, pious, self-restraint and remain in love of Allah.
Eid Prayer, Eid Garh:
One of the important parts of Eid is the mass prayers which are organised at all important locations. Muslims stand in unison in front of Almighty, without any differences chanting ‘Allah is Great’ throughout the day.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has released a list of mosques for Eid prayer across the country.
Besides mosques, certain areas are converted into a temporary mass prayer centres the details of which are below:
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