The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 113
III - Early Battles, Commencement of Fasting, Alteration of the Qiblah and Initial Discussion on the Battle of Badr 113 and in this manner there are other rights as well. The fulfillment of all these rights under the Sharī‘at and Will of God is also a form of worship. ” Therefore, a person should not overly emphasize the observance of a specific type of worship and neglect the other rights which are owed by him. Therefore, during this year, fasting in the month of Ramaḍān was ordained, and a second pillar was added to Islāmic worship. However, it should be remembered that just as the Holy Prophet sa would offer voluntary Ṣalāt in his own way prior to the ordinance of the five daily Ṣalāt and would instruct his Companions to follow suit, in the same manner, prior to the ordinance of fasting in the month of Ramaḍān , the Holy Prophet sa would observe voluntary fasting as well. However, until then, this had not been formally and specifically instituted for a specific time period. As such, it is narrated in the Aḥādīth that prior to the obligation of fasting in the month of Ramaḍān , the Holy Prophet sa would fast on the day of ‘Āshūrah , i. e. , on the 10th of Muḥarram and would encourage the Companions to do the same. ‘Īdul-Fiṭr At the end of Ramaḍān , after the fasting of Ramaḍān had been ordained, the Holy Prophet sa issued the injunction of Ṣadaqatul-Fiṭr , according to divine command. Every Muslim who possessed the capacity to do so, was enjoined to contribute one Sā‘ 1 of dates, grapes, barley or wheat, etc. , per person on behalf of himself, his family and dependents, as charity prior to ‘Īd. This charity was distributed among the poor, needy, orphans and widows, etc. , so that this may serve as an expiation for any lapses which may have occurred during the worship of fasting and a means of aid may be arranged for the poor on the occasion of ‘Īd. As such, according to the command of the Holy Prophet sa , prior to every ‘Īd at the end of Ramaḍān , Ṣadaqatul-Fiṭr was formally collected from every young and old Muslim man and woman, and distributed among the orphans, poor and needy. It was in this very year that ‘Īdul-Fiṭr began as well. In other words, the Holy Prophet sa ordered that upon the completion of the month of Ramaḍān , the Muslims should celebrate ‘Īd on the first of Shawwāl. This ‘Īd was in the joy that Allāh the Exalted had granted them the ability to offer worship in Ramaḍān. However, it is immensely fascinating that even for the expression of this joy, 1 An Arab unit of weight equivalent to about 4. 26 pounds [Publishers]