1. In most Muslim societies, the period of Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated with great entertainment and joy. Does not the indulgence of this day detract from the abstinence and self-denial of the whole month that has gone before?
I disagree with the questioner. What does he mean by great entertainment and joy? The joy is our Eid, it is our feast. During the month of Ramadhan, Allah has put us in training. At the end of the month there is a great sense of achievement, of coming closer to the Almighty. It is the joy of spiritual fulfilment. It is a time for celebration. This is no way insulting, abusing, or detracting from the achievements of the month of Ramadhan. So we are rightly happy and joyous.
When Abu Bakr entered the house of the Prophet, peace be upon him, on the day of Eid, he found 2 young girls playing music and singing. Abu Bakr asked them "you are doing this in the house of the Prophet?" But the Prophet told Abu Bakr to leave them, for Eid is a day of merriment and joy.
It is important for us to let our young and neighbours understand that our religion is not boring and just a matter of don'ts. We must show that Islam is the way of moderation, of tolerance, of beauty, sharing and laughter in the appropriate occasion.
(164 - Important Days 12)
2. In my mosque on Eid day the officials collect Zakat ul-Fitr. Is this a compulsory or voluntary tax, and what is its purpose?
This is not voluntary and we do not call it a tax. We call it the poor-due. It shows that we are caring. It is compulsory (Wajib).
According to a Hadith the Prophet, peace be upon him, enjoined us to give charity in the day of "Fitr". It is an obligation upon every Muslim who has a surplus amount of food for 2 days, a week, or even a fortnight, to offer it as Zakat ul-Fitr. It is usually collected 1 or 2 days before Eid ul-Fitr. This is because the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said "Don't let the needy go without Eid, so they too can enjoy the happiness of the day". The money therefore has to be available to distribute beforehand. The aim is to ensure that everybody has a share in the festivities and also to understand the meaning of charity.
The purposes of charity in this context are various. First of all, according to the Prophet, it clears mistakes and the minor faults which happened in our fast. There are many things we commit in our fasting, such as frowning in the face of a another person, or using words that are improper. There are so many minor mistakes and Zakat ul-Fitr is a means of wiping them away. Another reason is to allow the poor people of the community to enjoy the blessings of Eid ul-Fitr, so it is also an exercise in sharing. It is showing compassion and care for the community in which we live.
(165 - Zakat 4)
