THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EID - Unas (ra) reported that when the Prophet
Muhammad (saw) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of
Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two days they had
carnivals and festivity. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked the Ansaar
(the Muslims of Madinah) about it. They replied that before Islam
they used to have carnivals on those two joyous days. The Prophet
Muhammad (saw) told them: 'Instead of those two days, Allah has
appointed two other days which are better, the days of Eid-al-Fitr
and Eid-al-Adha.' (Hadith)
EID-AL-FITR is celebrated on the first day of Shaw'waal, at the
completion of Ramadaan. Shaw'waal is the 10th month of the Islamic
calendar. The Eid-al-Fitr is a very joyous day; it is a true
Thanksgiving Day for the believing men and women. On this day
Muslims show their real joy for the health, strength and the
opportunities of life, which Allah has given to them to fulfill
their obligation of fasting and other good deeds during the blessed
month of Ramadaan.
EID-AL-ADHA is celebrated on the tenth day of Zdilhijjah, the 12th
and the last month of the Islamic calendar. It is also very joyous
day; it is a feast of self-sacrifice, commitment and obedience to
Allah. It commemorates the great act of obedience to Allah by the
Prophet Ibrahim (as) in showing his willingness to sacrifice his son
Ismael (as). Allah accepted his sacrifice and replaced Prophet
Ismael (as) with a lamb. Although Hajj has no relation with the
Eid-al-Adha, but the five days long rituals of Hajj are also done
during this month culminating on 9th of Zdilhijjah. Many rituals of
Hajj are enactment of the struggle of the family Ibrahim (as)
specially his second wife Hajirah (as) and her son Prophet Ismael
(as).
