With the ending of the Holy month of Ramadan Muslims around the world, particularly the people of Afghanistan are to mark the Eid ul-Fitr festival. Muslims in much of the world could break their month of fasting after the arrival of the new, crescent moon. Eid ul-Fitr begins the day after this sighting.
Each year Muslims spend the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observing a community-wide fast. The fast of the month of Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims who are physically able are required to fast each day of the entire month from dawn to sunset.
The month of Ramadan lasts 29 to 30 days depending on moon sighting and according to narration; Allah Almighty divides the Holy month of Ramadan into three Stages that’s known as Ashra decade of Ramadan.
The Eid ul-Fitr arrives after the third Ashra, which starts from 21st Ramadan and ends 29th or 30th Ramadan according to the moon. Third Ashra is known as Safety from the Hell.
Every Muslim must pray to be safe from Hellfire. The Last Ashra is very important and superior. In this Ashra the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadar) also falls and many Muslims also practice Aitkaf (seclusion for prayers) in this Ashra and try to maximize their prayers.
When Eid ul-Fitr arrives, the people particularly the children and youth wear new clothes and go to entertainment sites and parks.
This year, due to deteriorating economic situation, most of the people of Afghanistan cannot afford to buy new clothes to wear during the Eid festival.
Abdul Qayoum, a shopkeeper in one of Kabul’s markets, says due to economic problems and increasing poverty in the country, most of the people cannot afford to purchase the first and dry fruits to better host and receive their guests on Eid days.
“In past, the people used to rush towards shops and markets to buy dry fruits and other necessary items to receive and host their guests during the Eid days, but now they cannot buy such items due to increasing poverty in the country,”
Abdul Qayoum said, adding that the prices of the first and food items have increased unprecedentedly.
Another Kabul resident Safia Sadat has told The Kabul Times correspondent that the price of dry fruits has increased recently and nobody could buy them. She added that all wanted to go markets to buy dry fruits but they did not as the price has soared unprecedentedly and people did not have money to buy them.
“For example, 1kg of almond has reach to 1,400 AFG and 1kg of pistachio has reached now to 1,200 AFG,” Safia said, adding that she could not buy them with such high price.
Abdul Malik, a government employee, says the salary he receives is not sufficient for a seven-member family; therefore, he cannot afford to purchase new clothes for his children and different dry fruits to host guests on Eid days.
It is worth mentioning that Muslims are getting preparation to better mark the Eid ul-Fitr festival, people in Afghanistan are struggling to find loaves of bread to feed their families. This year, Afghans are facing increasing poverty and unemployment, while they are happy that they can mark the three Eid days in peace and solidarity. Mohammad Daud
Muslims to end Ramadan with Eid-ul-Fitr festival
