Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 6
Muslim Festivals. Feast and festivals have become an integral part of human life in almost every society these days. In most cases their origin can be traced to ancient social rites, religious practices or anniversaries of some memorable events. For Muslims all religious festivals have their own special significance. In fact, at the end of different modes of worship, Islam has instituted a kind of festival. The festival following the daily Prayers of the week is the Friday Prayer, called. Jum'a Prayer; the one following the month of fasting is called. Eid-ul-Fitr, while the festival following the ceremony of Haj at the. Ka'aba in Arabia is known as Eid-ul-Adhia. . These festivals are not merely moments of joy and happiness. . They are also a form of worship in themselves, as Islam grafts the remembrace of God with every activity of a Muslim. It has related each action of the believer with God's remembrance so that even ordinary activities of life, like sitting, standing, walking, sleeping, wearing shoes or garments, going out of the house or entering into it, going on a journey or returning from it, selling or buying something, eating, drinking, washing, bathing, entering a mosque or going out of it, meeting a friend or facing an enemy, seeing the new moon, starting any work or finishing it, even sneezing, yawning or taking medicine, have been closely attached to His remembrance. . No wonder the idol worshippers of Mecca labelled the Holy. Prophet as one who had gone crazy about God. A worldly person would regard these things as sheer madness, but the man who has understood the reality of life, knows that the true purpose of life lies in his devotion to and remembrance of God Almighty. For a Muslim, therefore, a day of festival is not merely a day of feasting and merry-making, but is also spent in praising Allah, remembering His attributes, and thanking Him for His countless blessings and bounties.