Spending the month of Ramadan in worship, fasting, tawassul, dhikr and humility until the last day is a true ‘Eid for a faithful person. This ‘Eid is not similar to materialistic and worldly celebrations. Eid ul-Fitr is an ‘Eid of divine mercy. It is an ‘Eid of divine forgiveness. It is an occasion for thanking God, an occasion for the people to thank God for having been able to worship God for a month and to successfully celebrate the great divine Eid at the end of it, for having been able to benefit as much as possible from dhikr, dua, tawassul, humility, fasting and praying in the month of Ramadan. This is an ‘Eid for pious Muslims who have successfully spent a month in worship and abstinence, hoping that Allah the Exalted would bestow mercy and divine rewards on them.
There is a narration by Sawayd ibn Qafala, who was a friend of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and has been described as "a companion of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.)." One day he visited the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) on Eid ul-Fitr. "He was eating a very simple meal." The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was eating the kind of food that used to be prepared with the least possible ingredients, such as a dough made by mixing milk and flour, the kind of food that was for poor people. "I said, O' Commander of the Faithful, you eat such a simple food on an ‘Eid?'" On an ‘Eid, it was customary for people to eat the best food they could afford. He asked why the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) had limited himself to that simple food. He said: "It is an ‘Eid for those who have received divine mercy.'" The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said that it was an ‘Eid, but for those on whom Allah the Exalted had bestowed mercy and forgiveness. That is to say, child-like happiness and eating good food does not make a particular day an ‘Eid, rather a true ‘Eid is a day when a person manages to achieve divine forgiveness. In another narration, the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) has been quoted as saying: "Surely, this is an ‘Eid for those whose fasting and worship have been accepted by God." Eid ul-Fitr is an ‘Eid for a person whose fasting, praying and worship have been accepted by Allah the Exalted. "And any day in which no sin is committed is an ‘Eid." A day in which we are fortunate enough to commit no sins is an ‘Eid and an occasion for celebration and joy.
Of course, Muslims have been advised to congratulate each other on the day of Eid ul-Fitr, to put on new clothes and to consider it a day of joy and celebration. But the essence of this ‘Eid is attention to spirituality and asking Allah the Exalted for forgiveness and mercy.
Dear brothers and sisters, you fasting believers have created an opportunity for yourselves to bring your hearts closer to Allah the Exalted through fasting throughout the month of Ramadan, through worship, through supplication, through tawassul (seeking intercession from the Ahlulbait), through ihya (staying up the nights in prayers), through reciting the Holy Quran, through dhikr and through humble prayer. You should appreciate the value of this opportunity. You should consider it a great achievement and try to preserve it. Our people are pious. Our youth have pure and enlightened hearts. The men and women living across our country have established a sincere bond between Allah the Exalted and their hearts. This is a great opportunity for our people to achieve divine mercy.
