Eid Ka Chand!

(Picture by Brig Shah)

When I meet someone I knew after a long period, the first phrase that sprouts from my mouth is,

“Aap tho eid ke chand ho gaye ho (you have become Eid moon).” Why so? Eid moon appears only once a year! In my childhood, my grandma used to accost my uncle, an irregular namazi, “tum toh sirf eid ki namaz padhte ho (you pray only eid namaz).” 

Why is Eid Ul Fitr (Eid) namaz so important? It is a day to thank Allah for the strength, privilege and opportunity to be able to fulfill the month of Ramadan. Besides, at the EidGah the moomins in the congregation after the prayers meet one another with fondness and respect. 

Is Eid prayer mandatory? For me it is, I do not remember missing it; I did pray when in  distant places such as Leh, Zakhama and Tenaga Valley with my men. I do pray the five compulsory namaz everyday. 

So much for the introductory paras. I now proceed with the confusion that occurs and its side effects in the sighting of Eid ka Chand. Who is responsible for sighting the moon and declaring its presence? Some follow Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting committee of the Supreme Court who announce the official date, while others get their direction from the person under whose taqleed (the unquestioning acceptance of the legal decisions of another without knowing the basis of those decisions) they have opted. I am not under anyone’s taqleed.

At 11 am today I received a call from my brother informing me that he had received a message from his relative at 9am that in Hyderabad the Shia Maulana’s on the instructions of their leader, from Iran, under whose taqleed they are, had decided at 1,30 am to  celebrate Eid today ie Apr 10. I missed the namaz as it was held at 8.30 am and so did my friends.

The moomins of Ahle Sunnat are celebrating Eid tomorrow, 11 Apr, starting with the namaz at 9.30 am.

Should I join them? Let me explain the reasons for this question.

• There are separate mosques earmarked for Shias and Sunnis.
• In the Adhan Shias add “Ash hado anna Aliyan wali-Allah.” Sunnis do not.
• While performing the prayers while standing, Shias open their palms and their hands hang on their sides. Sunnis fold their hands keeping one over the other and place them in front of their stomach.
• Shias prostrate on to a small clay or stone block in Sajdah. Sunnis place their foreheads on the carpet.
• Shias perform Qunut, ie to raise the hands to the proximity/level of the face, aligning the palms of the hands side by side, fingers joined, with the exception of the thumbs, with the palms of the hands facing skywards and looking into the palms of the hands. Sunnis do not.
• Though minor, there are few differences in reciting certain Arabic sentences while performing the namaz while in rukoo and standing.
• After the namaz Shias send salaams to their Imams and their families. Sunnis do not.
• There are differences in Tabligh (to convey) presented after the namaz by the Shia and Sunni Maulvis.

The above are a few differences that I have observed and read. There may be others too. Will I land up in Dosakh (hell) if I join the congregation tomorrow? Let Allah be the judge on the Day of Resurrection! For the time being under no circumstances will I miss praying the Eid Namaz. I am a Muslim and for me:

La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasool Allah

There is no deity but Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His messenger.