Id-Ul-Fitar and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, M.S. India

Contact No. – 09404955338

Email – [e-mail]

 

Id and Mahatma Gandhi

 

Eid-Ul-Fitr is known Sweet Id among Indian people. It celebrated at the completion of Ramazan. Shaw'waal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The Eid-al-Fitr is a very joyous day. It is a true thanks giving 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? Mahatma Gandhi loved Muslims very much. He gave them honour and respect on every occasions. He wanted that Muslim and Hindu lived like brothers.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Delighted with your great act of renunciation. Pray, accept Id Mubarak. Would to God that all of us, Hindus, Mohmmedans, Christians, Parsis, Jews, belonging to all races, have the same virtue of charity, justness and breadth of vision. The world will surely be the better for it.”1

At this day every Muslim wakes up early in the morning. He prepare for personal cleanliness. Take bath after Fajr. Brush their teeth. Dress up best clothes available, whether new or cleaned old ones. Have their breakfast before leaving for prayer ground.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have received a number of letters from Muslim friends sending me good wishes for Id. thanks them for their love for me. I am sure they do not wish me to write to them individually to convey my thanks. I also wish them all a happy Id. At a time like this, when there is widespread distrust between the two communities, even a little evidence of sincere love is as pleasant as a small patch of greenery in an otherwise barren scene. The only way to prove that the letters of greetings are prompted by genuine love is to take up activities which strengthen the bond between Hindus and Muslims. I hope that the friends who have sent me the messages will take every opportunity to plant seeds of amity in the country.”2

Mahatma Gandhi delivered, “Hearty Id Greetings to our entire companion Muslims, Hindus Sikhs, and Chistian.”3 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “But the Quaid-e-Azam has given me special reason for congratulating him. I had the pleasure of wiring him congratulations on his excellent Id day broadcast.”4 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I was wondering what I shall send you today. It should be fair on my part to let you and your sister3 share equally the crisp chapattis they make for me. Here is your share. Please regard it as a token of my love and do please help yourself to it.”5

Mahatma Gandhi told, “My first duty is to wish Id Mubarak to all those Muslims who are present here. There was a time when both the Hindus and Muslims embraced each other on this day. I must confess that after many years I am witnessing this scene. I am very happy to see the members of the Muslim League, National Guards and Congress volunteers here. However, this unity should be everlasting. We have to take the place of the British. I will never be able to forget the scene I have witnessed today.”6

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Some Muslims came to me today on account of Id. They know that I am not their enemy but their friend. I am a Hindu, and a sanatani Hindu at that. That is why I am as much a Muslim as a Hindu. Hence they came to me as to a friend. I did offer those Id greetings; but I told them that really I had not the face to do so. Even today they live in great fear. They wonder if the Hindus would let them stay here. Or would they be killed? Of course all the Hindus do not kill. But they are in panic because many have been slaughtered. What if they are few in number? Should the people of the majority community attack and terrorize them? These atrocities have got to end, otherwise we will perish.”7 Eid prayers are strongly recommended, just short of obligatory. It consists of two units with six or thirteen additional Takbirs. At the conclusion of the prayer the Muslims should convey greetings to each other give reasonable gifts to the youngsters and visit each other at their homes. Muslims should also take this opportunity to invite their non-Muslims neighbors, co-workers, classmates and business acquaintances to Eid festivities to expose them to Islam and Muslim culture. On thus we can say that Mahatma Gandhi gave mubarakwad on every Id to their all friends. Id festival was liked by him very much. He celebrates on many occasions.

References:

 

1. LETTER TO THE PRESS; September 6, 1919
2. VOL. 27 : 12 JANUARY, 1924 - 21 MAY, 1924 390
3. The Hindustan Times, 23-2-1931
4. Harijan, 20-1-1940
5. LETTER TO M. A. JINNAH; September 23, 1944
6. SPEECH AT PRAYER MEETING; August 18, 1947
7. Prarthana Pravachan I, pp. 465-70