Ramadan is over, we have celebrated Eid al-Fitr. Etymologically, Eid al-Fitr means purity. While in terminology it is the day Muslims break their Ramadan shaum (fast) on the 1st Shawwal and is prohibited to conduct shaum on the day.
On this day takbir, tahmid, and tahlil are echoed, as a form of speech thanks to the successful in performing fast during Ramadan. This is a celebrating/winning day for the faithful who perform fast maximally and optimally.
What should we say, what are we celebrate, and how do we celebrate? We will discuss them here.
Taqabbal Yaa Kareem …
In the book of Al-Jawaab al-Kaafy limansa-ala ‘an ad-Dawaa’ ash-Syaafy or we are familiar with another title Ad-Daa’wa ad-Dawaa ‘, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah discusses ar-raja and al-khauf. He said that optimistic and pessimistic attitudes are very beneficial to the pious deeds.
In that regard, Allah says, “Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord. And they who believe in the signs of their Lord. And they who do not associate anything with their Lord. And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord. It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip (others) therein.” (Al-Muminun [ 23]: 57-61).
“O Allah’s Apostle, are people who afraid of in this verse,” Ayesha asked to Prophet Muhammad, “because they ever drunk wine, adultery, and stealing?”
The Prophet replied, “No, O Bint Siddiq! These are people who like to conduct shaum, diligent in prayers, and love to do shadaqah. However they are very afraid of all is not acceptable to Allah. Then they hasten to do good!”
This is then the basis of what Muslims say, “Taqaballallaahu minnaa wa minkum” to the brethren when they meet in Eid al-Fitr and who receive it will reply, “Taqabbal yaa Kareem“.
The words meant, in one side, we have to be optimistic, no matter how small our good deeds are, surely Allah will give reward. During the holy month of Ramadan, we have done many righteous deeds. In addition to obligatory prayers five times a day and full shaum, every day we do intentions to perform shaum, tarawih prayers / qiyamullail / tahajud, sahoor; we seek forgiveness before dawn, perfom dhikr, do recitations of the Qur’an, give shadaqah, perform i’tikaf, and implement zakat fitrah. So is social good such as we help to solve problems of our friends, help elders across the street, being a committee or a speaker at the event of boarding school during Ramadan, and so on. We believe, based on the word of Allah SWT and His prophet, it will not in vain and will get double rewards.
But on the other hand, we need to be pessimistic, it could be, what do we do all of that, yet sincere – merely want to grab ridla Allah, and not in accordance with sunnah – based on the example of Prophet Muhammad SAW. We feel that we are sincere, it shows we are not sincere. Likewise, we feel that ourselves are who the most of following sunnah, it is a sign that we are not like the prophet SAW did. Na’uudzubillaah min dzaalik!
In order for the two feelings – ar-raja (optimistic) and al-khauf (pessimistic) are useful as Ibn Qayyim said, then we must position both feelings in their places. We do optimistic before we do good righteous. We have to believe that what we do will be accepted by Allah SWT. So we are motivated to do so. Instead, we keep a sense of pessimism after we did pious charity. We are not sure, because what we have done with the permission and help of Allah, so we do not feel smug over our charity, riyaa (shows) and sum’ah (listen/play) our favor. Because we are not sure that our charity is accepted by Allah SWT, finally we hasten to do goods as its successor.
Well, when Ramadan ends, people’s heart is alive, must have felt remorse. For those who have been doing goods, they regret it, why they did not do more maximal and optimal, on the contrary, those who have been careless or committed to adultery, they regret because they did not take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan. This regret bringing fear, worry, anxiety, when Allah SWT in the hereafter will ask, “What did you do during Ramadan?” Why you did not do well? And so on.
Thus, there is a difference between those whose hearts are blinded by the world with people who remember of afterlife in celebrating Eid. Those whose hearts are negligent, when Ramadan is ended, like a horse that escapes from the cage or bond. They feel free from all restrictions of shaum. They eat, drink, and lust revenge. They are immersed in the excitement and start to forget to do goods.
Conversely, those whose hearts are alive, when Ramadan is over as someone who lost her lover. They feel Ramadan as an exercise to live a real life over the next eleven months. When they are eating, drinking and doing sexual intercourse, as if they are challenge, because it is conditioned during Ramadan. They rejoice in accordance with the teachings of Islam and start doing goods.
