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Eid al-Fitr - "celebration of the breaking
of the fast" - marks the end of the month of Ramadan in the
Muslim world, the month of fasting and reflection, one of the five
pillars of Islam. The Eid holiday is generally marked by
celebration, family gatherings and gift giving.
Today, we are pleased to share a compilation of news stories on
celebrations of the Eid in Saudi Arabia and in the United
States. We wish you a blessed
celebration -- Eid Mubarak.
Eid Marked With Fervor
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan & K.S. Ramkumar,
Arab News
JEDDAH/RIYADH, 4 November 2005 � Muslims
across the Kingdom celebrated Eid Al-Fitr yesterday with a variety
of cultural and recreational programs while imams leading Eid
prayers emphasized the need for strengthening Muslim unity.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and senior officials took part in
Eid prayers held at the Grand Mosque in Makkah along with nearly
two million faithful who included foreign pilgrims.
The large mosque complex and its vast
courtyards overflowed with worshippers and thousands joined the
prayer standing in nearby streets and pathways. Authorities
deployed a large number of security personnel to control the
crowd.
In his Eid sermon, Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid,
chairman of the Shoura Council and one of the mosque�s imams,
called upon Muslims to stand united in the face of growing
challenges.
�Muslims are divided at a time when they must
unify their ranks to confront major challenges and threats,� the
Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.
�Reform and change will come only from
within, most importantly from the mind,� Dr. Bin-Humaid said.
He emphasized the importance of constructive
dialogue and objective criticism, saying they are some of the
noble human values. �World civilizations were the result of
positive interactions of individuals and societies dealing with
various issues,� he explained.
Bin-Humaid called upon scholars and thinkers to
shun intellectual tyranny, saying dialogues must aim to achieve
higher interests of the religion, society and state.
Citizens and expatriates across Saudi Arabia
enthusiastically participated in the congregational prayers.
Hundreds of thousands of people took part in Eid prayers offered
at open grounds and mosques in many parts of the Kingdom.
Riyadh Deputy Governor Prince Sattam, who
received and exchanged Eid greetings with a large number of
princes, ministers, scholars and high-ranking government officials
in the capital, offered prayers at the Dira Eid Ground.
In his address to some 30,000 worshippers,
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh invoked the blessings of
Allah on those who had observed the fast during the holy month of
Ramadan and hoped that they would carry forward the spirit of
fasting, which they had imbibed during the period.
The mufti reminded the faithful not to forget
the plight of their unfortunate brethren amid the festivities.
Expatriates from Pakistan and India offered
special prayers for the victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake that
brought about widespread destruction of life and property. �After
the Eid prayers, we offered prayers especially for the quake
victims,� said Shaharyar Abdul Raza, a Pakistani construction
supervisor in Jeddah. In the wake of the earthquake, members of
the expatriate community offered regular prayers and collected
donations in cash and kind for the victims under the guidance of
the Pakistani diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Jeddah.
�I felt very happy, while receiving guests,
embracing them and exchanging greetings. We also gave charity
before prayers,� said Abdul Hafeez Khan Jamil, an expatriate who
works at ICICI Bank, at a Telemony center of the Arab National
Bank.
Major roads and streets in Riyadh, Jeddah and
Dammam presented a near-deserted look toward the afternoon, unlike
during the month of Ramadan when shopping malls were filled with
shoppers.
Hotels in Makkah and Madinah were full with
pilgrims. Most of the five-star and fourstar hotels said they had
a good Ramadan month with guests coming from overseas and
elsewhere in the Kingdom. Families visiting the major cities spent
the time at amusement parks for the sake of children. Parks and
picnic spots also attracted families wishing to spend quiet
evenings during the Eid holidays.
In Jeddah, families headed toward the Corniche,
some of them spending the whole night in tents. Some of the
Corniche roads were jammed with traffic. Similar was the case with
the roads leading to the Half Moon Bay in the Eastern Province.
The Riyadh Zoo remains open for visitors.
All hospitals across the Kingdom are open to
enable visitors to meet with their friends and relatives and
exchange Eid greetings.
While some expatriates had gone home on
vacation, those who stayed behind spent the time in between
prayers exchanging family visits or watching television.
Source: Arab
News
A Very Happy E-Eid
Molouk Y. Ba-Isa, Arab News
"..At this holiday time it�s easy to see how digital
technology has changed our lives. For the past 48 hours, mobile
telephones across the Kingdom were beeping non-stop as friends,
relatives and business acquaintances sent out their best regards
for Eid Al-Fitr.." [more]
Fireworks, Folk Dances Highlight of Eid
Festivities
M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan & K.S. Ramkumar, Arab News
"..Spectacular fireworks, captivating folklore dances,
orchestras led by well-known singers and other recreational
programs marked Eid festivities across Saudi Arabia
yesterday.." [more]
The Shifting Values of Eid
Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]
"..As the lights went out for the month of Ramadan this year
and the dawn of a new Eid broke, there emerged a sense of renewed
excitement and expectation within the residents across the land.
Eid means a lot of things to a lot of people. And this year is no
different. Among the elders, there is hopeful anticipation in view
of the positive actions the government has been recently taking
toward the welfare of its people. The steps taken so far by King
Abdullah and his government in this respect have given many a
people a reason to celebrate.." [more]
(US) Presidential Message on Eid al-Fitr
"Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a time of prayer,
reflection, and fasting. It is the holiest month of the Muslim
year. To celebrate this holiday, many Muslims gather in their
homes and mosques to thank God for His blessings and His help in
keeping the fast. Muslims also demonstrate their compassion by
reaching out to the less fortunate and giving gifts of money or
food to help those in need. This year, many American Muslims have
reached out to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
and to those affected by the devastating earthquake in South Asia.
Their contributions have been generous and reflect the important
values shared by all Americans.." [more]
Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Laramie
"On the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, candy is a traditional
gift for children in many cultures. A pi�ata is a candy-filled
party game, so the fusion of Eid al-Fitr and the pi�ata for
Wyoming�s culturally-diverse Muslim community was a natural
one.." [more]
A Joyous Union at Ramadan's End
"'We just had 10 days of intense worship,' said Riyad Shamma,
36, who flew in from Cincinnati. 'Now, it's time for us to rest,
relax and enjoy time with family.' For many Muslims, Eid al-Fitr
is a chance to catch up with friends and loved ones. That
certainly was the case yesterday, as hundreds of Muslims from
across the region celebrated.." [more]
Eid al Fitr a Time of Celebration
"This November, American Muslims will celebrate Thanksgiving,
one of the great American holidays. But first they are celebrating
Eid al Fitr, or the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the
Islamic faith.." [more]
Muslims in US Celebrate Eid With Enthusiasm
and Some Confusion
Sameen Tahir Khan, Arab News
"..Confusion stemmed from the fact that many mosques in
Illinois, Ohio, Pittsburgh and California left recorded messages
on their answering machines in the middle of the day stating that
Eid would be celebrated on Friday. Many Islamic websites also
carried the same message. But the twist in the story came late in
the night with the announcement that Eid would instead be
celebrated on Thursday.." [more]
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