بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِAllahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Allahu Akbar,Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd.Returning to Fitrah, Weaving New HopeWhen the Ied day arrived, the sky felt brighter than ever. The sound of takbir resounds in every corner of the land, stirring the hearts of those who have been tried throughout a month of patience and sincerity. Eid ul-Fitr has arrived—the long-awaited day, the crowning glory of all the striving that Ramadan demands.Yet behind the outpouring of joy, there is a question we ought to ask ourselves with honesty: Have we truly returned to our fitrah?
I. The Meaning of Fitrah We So Often ForgetThe term “Eid ul-Fitr” is commonly understood to mean “the festival of breaking the fast”—and so it is. Yet the word fitri derives from the Arabic root fitrah—the original purity, the innate goodness that Allah placed within every soul at birth. Every child enters this world in a state of pristine innocence, with a heart as clear and unblemished as a brand-new mirror.The journey of life then arrives in all its varied hues: the temptations of the world, heedlessness, wrath, pride, and sins that gradually cloud that mirror. Ramadan comes as a workshop of the soul—a full month during which we are invited to cleanse that mirror once more, to polish it through fasting, night prayers, charity, and sincere repentance.Eid ul-Fitr is the day on which we ought to stand as renewed human beings—not merely in a change of garments, but in a change of habits, a change of perspective, and a fresh commitment to Allah and to one another.
II. The Lessons of Ramadan We Must Not Leave BehindFor a whole month, we fasted. We abstained from food and drink from dawn until sunset. Yet true fasting is not merely refraining from eating and drinking—it is a discipline of restraint from all that distances us from Allah: holding the tongue from backbiting, guarding the eyes from what is forbidden, and keeping the heart free from envy and spite.For a month, we were taught that a human being is capable of far more than they realise. We were able to rise in the final third of the night to supplicate in solitude. We were able to give to those in need, even whilst fasting ourselves. We were able to restrain the desires that we had long allowed to reign over us.The question now is: will all of this come to an end today? Will we, the moment Shawwal begins, revert to the very same people we were before Ramadan?The scholars have said that the sign of one’s Ramadan being accepted is that they become better after Ramadan—not a return to who they were before, and certainly not a regression. Eid ul-Fitr is not the finishing line; it is the starting line of a more meaningful life.III. Sincere Forgiveness, Not Mere TraditionOne of the most beautiful customs of Eid ul-Fitr is the seeking and granting of forgiveness. We shake hands, embrace one another, and offer words of reconciliation. Yet have we truly forgiven? Not merely mouthing pleasant words whilst the heart still nurses a grudge or carries the weight of old wounds?To forgive is a mark of greatness of spirit. The Prophet ﷺ said that the strongest person is not the one who overpowers others in a fight, but the one who can govern themselves when overcome by anger. Forgiving is not a sign of weakness—it is the highest form of strength a human being can possess.On this blessed day, let us find the courage to forgive: to forgive our parents for their shortcomings, to forgive siblings and friends who have caused us pain, and even to forgive ourselves for the weaknesses and transgressions of the past. A heart unburdened by resentment is a heart prepared to receive the mercy of Allah.IV. Hope for a Better TomorrowWe celebrate Eid ul-Fitr 1447 AH in a world that continues to move rapidly and is filled with uncertainty. In many corners of the globe, our brothers and sisters still endure hunger, conflict, and suffering. Closer to home, there are still many who are in need of a helping hand.The spirit of Eid ul-Fitr ought to compel us not only to give thanks for the blessings we enjoy, but also to extend our compassion to others. The zakat fitrah we fulfilled before the Eid prayer is a living symbol that our own joy remains incomplete so long as others continue to suffer.Let us make this Eid ul-Fitr the turning point at which we become more caring, more generous, more honest in our work, and more trustworthy in discharging our responsibilities — whether as individuals, as members of our families, or as part of the wider community.
Dear brothers and sisters in faith,Eid ul-Fitr is not merely about ketupat, new clothes, and festive envelopes. It is about the awakening of the soul. It is about our return to our truest selves—as humble servants of Allah, as human beings who cherish one another, as stewards upon this earth who bear their responsibilities with honour.May Allah accept all our acts of worship throughout Ramadan. May we be counted amongst those who have returned to fitrah—clean, pure, and ready to face the days ahead with greater resolve. And may this Eid ul-Fitr be the finest we have ever celebrated.تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهمِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْTaqabbalallahu minna wa minkum—May Allah accept (our worship) from us and from you.Happy Eid ul-Fitr 1447 AHMinal Aidin Wal Faizin
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