Gratitude is due to Allah (SWT) at the commencement and end of every activity. For those who longed for Ramadan and took advantage of every aspect of the benefits that came with it, they are now missing it. It would take another 365 days for this virtuous month to return again. Between the close of Ramadan and the celebration of Sallah is a nostalgic fulfilment for believers.
As we celebrate Sallah today, our mind is full of thought about the virtuous moments that would be missed from Ramadan. With all the complaints by some of us about heat waves, exhaustion, long hours of power outage, and other socio-economic inconveniences, many would miss the holy month. The fact that we do not know if the 1446 AH Ramadan fast would be our last Ramadan justifies the nostalgia in the last hours of the holy month.
Let us strive to remain sincere in our practice of Islam. The spiritual life we live after Ramadan should not be different from that which we epitomized during the holy month. The entire period of a man’s lifetime is apt for devotion. This is the discernable message from Qur’an 51:56 wherein Allah says “I have only created Jinn and men that they may serve Me.” As Muslims who aspire for more reward in order to attain the ultimate bliss in heaven, we should indeed work harder to uphold all the acts of ibadah that we made efforts to put forth during Ramadan.
The end of Ramadan, therefore, shouldn’t be an end to our being righteous. Continuity in worship should be every Muslim’s catchphrase. The end of Ramadan should be a springboard that further launches us to explore other rewarding acts of worship. Our constant recitation of the Quran; our observance of tahajjud (midnight prayers); our feeding the poor and the needy; our being truthful in our speeches; our being sincere in our thoughts and actions; and our keeping to every act that brings us closer to Allah should characterize our life after Ramadan. This way, we would be living with Ramadan after Ramadan. The only end to a Muslim’s preoccupation with worship is death.
Muslims who have no cause for restitution are encouraged to follow up the just concluded Ramadan fast with six days of voluntary fast in this month of Shawwal. In order to avert any possible threat to one’s health, interested persons are advised to take some few days of rest after Ramadan before embarking on the six days of voluntary fast. The six days of voluntary fast (otherwise called Sittah Shawwal in Islamic literature) can be observed consecutively or intermittently, as may be convenient for an individual.
Imam Muslim (RA) reports on the authority of Abu Ayyub that the Prophet (SAW) said “…Whoever follows Ramadan (fast) with six days (of fasting) in Shawwal would be (considered) as if he had fasted a whole life time”. The recommended six days of fasting in Shawwal is voluntary. It is not compulsory. One’s inability or failure to observe the ‘Sittah Shawwal’ does no harm to a person’s Ramadan fast. Indeed, we could also keep the memories of Ramadan alive by observing the prophetic voluntary fast every Monday and Thursday.
Today Sunday March 30, 2025 being Eid ul-Fitr day makes it iimportant for us to talk about activities the giving out of Zakatul-Fitr, which is a Sunnah that is compulsory on every Muslim, big and small, male and female, free-born as well as slave.
The Zakatul-Fitr of every Muslim is to be given out by the person responsible for his/her sustenance and upkeep. A man would give the Zakatul-Fitr of his wives, children, and every other person under his care. Where a woman is responsible for her own sustenance and upkeep, she will give out the Zakatul-Fitr for herself and that of her dependents (if she has any). The Zakatul-Fitr of dependents can be given out by the sustenance provider even where the former (such as children in boarding schools) reside far away in different towns or cities. Zakatul-Fitr is to be given out from the staple food item in one’s community. It could be rice, maize, millet, wheat, or similar grains or cereals. It could also be beans or groundnut where such is the staple food of the people.
The quantity to be given out as Zakatul-Fitr per head is four measures of the food item (in grains or cereals) using the Sa’a (cubic measure) of the Prophet (SAW). Although the Sa’a is today available in nearly all parts of the Muslim world, the two palms of a man put together and filled with grains or cereals would be equivalent to a full measure of the Prophetic Sa’a (cubic measure) where the latter is not practically available. It is Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to give out Zakatul-Fitr before going for the Eid prayers after daybreak of the day of Eidul-Fitr. It could be earlier by a day or two. If a Muslim were unable to pay the Zakatul-Fitr before leaving his house for the Eid prayer due to indigence, it would still be paid when resources for paying it are available. Zakatul-Fitr has no waiver or substitute. It is obligatory on all Muslims.
Apart from paying the Zakatul-Fitr before going for the Eid prayers, every Muslim is enjoined to break his fast in the morning of the Eid day. The sighting of the crescent of Shawwal (tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar) marks the end of Ramadan. Therefore, it is expected that every Muslim who fasted during Ramadan should break the fast by eating or drinking in the morning before leaving the house or the mosque as regards those who observed I’tikaf) for the Eid praying ground. Refusing to eat or drink after daybreak on the Eidul-Fitr day does not make a Muslim more pious than others. May Allah guide us to remain righteous and devoted; with or without Ramadan, amin. As we celebrate Sallah, we say to readers Kullu Aamin Wa Antum Bi-Khayrin!
