Beginning the fasting of Ramadan, Eidul Fitre and Eidul Adha are observed by the Indian Muslims on different Days of the week. Is it possible to unify this as a common Day for the world? This is a question raised by many of our friends with sadness. Let us examine.
Prima facie, Fasting and Feasting cannot go together. If some people fasted while the others feasted it will be awkward and a true religion cannot allow it. Fasting is to be observed in the month of Ramadan, says the Qur’aan. A month is a measure of time and the period of Ramadan cannot be different for the people on earth. It would begin on a particular Day of the week and end on a particular Day. Days of the week are common for all. Days have names and they are known by their names. The first of Shawwal is the Day fixed for the Eidul Fitre and the first of a month cannot fall on two Dates of the Islamic calendar.
The Day begins at a particular place on the Earth and follows gradually changing from place to place in succession. It proceeds throughout the world and remains the same until 24 hours even though some one’s night is some one’s day on the globe. The Shariah does not require fasting at night and the beginning of a fast prevails till 24 hours in the same way as the Jumu’a prayer, till 24 hours throughout the Globe. If it exceeds 24 hours the people would be observing the Jumu’a or Eid prayer for more than one day (24 hours) and the Shariah would not allow it. So celebrating the Eid for more than one Day (24 hours) is out of question. If the people of a place celebrated Eid on a Friday, all should celebrate it on that Friday.