Central Khutbah for Eid al-Fitr

“The day of Eid without warm greetings and handshakes is just an ordinary date on the calendar”

The Most High Allah revealed: “Say: ‘Let them rejoice in the grace and the bounty of Allah: that is better than the wealth they amass.'” (Surah Yunus, 58)

There is no greater joy for the heart than the joy felt by the believer in attaining the satisfaction of the Lord of the worlds, for those who seek true virtues and spiritual heights are much happier and content with the fruits of their actions than those whose ultimate aspiration is ephemeral earthly pleasure and the satisfaction of base instincts and desires of the soul.

Therefore, sincere believers have the right to rejoice in Eid, for Eid is a joy, a happiness, and a satisfaction. It is rejoicing in the kindness and grace of Allah, rejoicing in His countless blessings, and above all, rejoicing in His guidance at a time when most people wander in the darkness of misguidance.

What greater grace is there than being guided by Allah in Islam, being chosen and becoming members of the religion of Abraham, a pure monotheism, a testimony of unity, and followers of His last messenger, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as the Most High Allah said: “He has named you Muslims in the past and in this Quran, so that the Messenger may be a witness against you and you may be witnesses against others. So, perform the prayer, give the zakat, and place your trust in Allah; He is your Lord, and what a Lord and what a Protector!” (Surah Al-Hajj, 78)

Thus, sincere believers have the right to rejoice after obeying Allah and approaching Him in the manner that pleases Him. Believers have tasted the sweetness of worship and happiness in total submission and obedience of the soul to its Creator during the blessed days and nights of the month of Ramadan, especially during the last ten days and nights, and after that came the joy and happiness of Eid.

Those were magnificent days and brilliant nights when the mercy, blessing, and abundance of Allah descended. The rivers of Muslims lined up in tight rows spent the nights of Ramadan in worship, glorifying and magnifying the Creator of the heavens and the earth in the presence of multitudes of angels descending to earth.

In the ecstasy and satisfaction of the believers, they prostrated before Him in fear and hope, with the total presence of the heart, as if they were contemplating the Paradise they hope for and toward which their souls aspire, and as if they were contemplating the Hellfire they fear and hope to be among those whom Allah saved from the fire of Hell during the blessed month of Ramadan.

This ecstasy of the believers, this total presence of the heart, and this connection with the heavens are known only to those who have tasted the sweetness of fasting, the sweetness of prostration in the silence of the nights of Ramadan, the sweetness of sincere supplications accompanied by tears of repentance, the sweetness of reciting the Quran and the nightly prayers with the Creator. When Eid arrives, the whole universe presents itself in its most beautiful attire, the sun shines in all its splendor, and happiness and joy flood the hearts of Muslims.

Merciful Allah, accept our fasting of Ramadan and all our good deeds and acts of worship, strengthen our hearts in Your religion, repair and reinforce our fraternal and faith bonds, make us one body that feels the pain of every part equally, make us love, respect, and help each other sincerely in Your name, grant us sincerity, courage, manliness, and pride, and make us one fist against tyrants, criminals, and oppressors.

Merciful Allah, protect the Muslims of Gaza with Your protection, for they have no protector or assistant besides You.

(Central Khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić for Eid al-Fitr on April 10, 2024, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique Nordstad” in Diekirch)