All about Eid!

THOUSANDS of local Muslims are counting down to this year’s Eid ul-Fitr festival after fasting for the past week. Eid, which is verified by the sighting of the new moon (this year sometime around the start of October) is a joyous occasion with important religious significance, celebrating the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory, peace of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims celebrate not only the end of fasting but also thank God for the self control and strength that they believe God gave them. At this time, money is donated to the poor and Muslims wear their best clothes. With around 25,000 Muslims in Oldham marking the occasion, reporter USMA RAJA asked local representatives what Eid means to them . . .

FATHER Phil Sumner, St Patrick’s Church, Union Street West, Oldham, said: “Before coming to Oldham Eid, to me, was an inconvenience: Wilmslow Road was always jammed with cars whose occupants seemed resolute on making as much noise as possible.

“Now I see it as a time when Muslim neighbours, supporting new outfits, understandably want to celebrate with their families and friends at the end of a long fast. It’s a time when plastic containers of spiced food find their way into my kitchen saving me from what sometimes can be the chore of cooking.”

MAYOR of Oldham, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, said: “Eid is a special festival to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
“It is a family event in which we enjoy the day and remember God and the destitute all over the world.”

NUGHMANA Kanwel (53), award-winning poet, who lives in Oldham, said: “I am a Muslim and I fast during Ramadan.

“The Eid day is a god gifted day for Muslims to celebrate after the holy month of Ramadan.

“It is a happy and joyous occasion for me and I celebrate it with my family and friends. It is a blessing from God and it is marked with plenty of food.”

PHIL Woolas, MP Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “It is a beautiful event.
“To see the joy it brings without the need for alcohol or excessive bingeing is a lesson to the rest of us.

“The family and community values that Eid brings about are a wonderful thing.”

COUNCILLOR for Cheetham ward, Afzal Khan CBE, former Lord Mayor of Manchester, said: “Eid is a day of spreading goodwill and peace towards others.

“Eid for me is a day of wholesome celebration, starting with giving money for the needy, followed by a prayer to thank God for the opportunity to go through the month of Ramadan with fasting and praying.

“Thereafter spending time with family exchanging gifts, sharing food and spending the rest of the day visiting relatives and friends.”

COUNCILLOR Howard Sykes - Leader of Oldham MBC and of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “Like all religious festivals, Eid is a time for reflection and celebration.”

RIAZ Ahmed, Chairman of Oldham PCT, said: “Eid is one of those happy occasions celebrated with family and friends.

“For me, it is a poignant time as I reflect on the last 12 months and thank the Almighty for the blessings he has bestowed upon me and my family.”

SHENAZ Khan, TV extra and casting agent, Oldham Enterprise Factory, said: “Eid is a celebration to mark the end of Ramadan, where Muslims try to pray more than usual and donate money to the poor.

“The muslim celebration is too often commercialised, but it a happy time for the family. I spend the whole day cooking and entertaining my four children and relatives.”

SAIF ur-Rehman Khan, Consul General of Pakistan, said: “Eid is a day of joy, happiness and time to unite with families and friends.

“It is an opportunity to greet and visit those, whom you hardly get time to meet the whole year.

“We should visit those in hospitals and distribute sweets and gifts among them too.”

COUNCILLOR Rod Blyth, cabinet member for communities and people, said: “Eid is a time when everybody should be tolerant with everybody else and not at war and conflict, but at peace.

“I have been invited to Eid parties in the past, which I have enjoyed attending.”

CAROLINE Ball, Chief Superintendent of Oldham Police, said: “Eid is a wonderful occasion for Muslims, a chance for them to celebrate all the things that are important to them such as their faith, families and community.

“It also provides a chance for non-Muslims to find out about the Muslim religion and realise that all the major faith groups have much in common. “They all encourage mutual respect, tolerance and understanding of each other and through this, safe, confident and supportive communities.”