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The Holy Month, one of the most sacred in Islam is here again. This is the place to discuss and post facts and everything else about fasting and Ramadhan.
#15907
As Muslims go through the holy month of Ramadhan, many are already thinking of and preparing for Eid. Delicious foods will be cooked, new clothes will be worn and a large number of gifts will be exchanged.

Gift giving is part of the practice of the Holy Prophet (a). He says: Giving gifts creates affection. However we need to go beyond this hadith and look at the consequences of the vast numbers of gifts exchanged at Eid time. Gift giving has become a booming industry and Muslims are succumbing to this materialistic consumerism. Sometimes the original meaning behind the tradition gets lost, and gift giving takes on a life of its own.

The following quote is worth reading:

Holidays are often a whirlwind. Guests come in droves, kids are bombarded with gifts and pressure. And when it's all over, the children are left with a pile of gifts and hopes for what they will get next time. "We give more stuff to children than what they can manage while depriving them of the most important gift of all: our time!" says Dr. Charles Smith, author of Raising Kids with Courage. Such is the nature of our consume, consume, consume society. We do our best to try to not lead our children down a path to greed, but then barrage them with gifts on a single day, thereby whetting their appetite for wanting more.

Gift giving is a great tradition and should be continued. It makes the occasion exciting, especially for children. However we need to ask some questions about the gifts we give at Eid time:

1) Are the gifts increasing materialism and worldly attachments in our children? Are we responsible for inculcating a love of worldly things by giving them so much? This love will stay with them as they grow and then take up a different, more deadly, form. The Holy Prophet (s) says: Love of the world is the root of all disobedience [to God] and the first of every sin.

2) Does gift giving rob our children from the spirituality of Eid? Should we not focus more on the Eid Salaat, on the beautiful Takbirs after Salaat on Eid night and day, on visiting relatives, on thinking of the millions of under privileged children around the world?

3) How much time are we spending in the valuable days of Ramadhan thinking and planning gifts, going out to the mall, and preparing the gifts? While there is nothing wrong with shopping a little, it is a shame if it occupies a significant portion of our thought and time in this month.

4) Does the person receiving the gift really need this gift? Are we just giving unnecessary stuff to those who already have everything? Rather than give yet another toy or a shawl that may end up at the back of a closet, can we spend those few dollars in a more useful way?

It is the spirit of giving that is more important than the giving. In a world that is becoming more and more polarized between the haves and the have-nots, we need to be cautious in the gifts we give.


Below are some alternatives to material gifts we give at the time of Eid.

1) Give philanthropic gifts. Give to charity in the name of the person you want to give a gift to. Create a beautiful card or receipt ec. to give as a gift and include details of the charity with pictures etc. Most adults would appreciate this type of gift. Children can also learn to appreciate it. Perhaps they can receive a gift of lesser value so that the remaining can be put into charity.

2) Give the gift of time. Consider giving a gift of time, a very precious commodity in today’s times. For example, someone may welcome help in learning how to use a computer. Or some help with chores. Have family members create special gift certificates (e.g., two kitchen clean ups, five free loads of laundry, one hour of babysitting, etc.). These days when everyone is so stretched, a gift of time can be more meaningful than one that costs big dollars.

3) Give the gift of experience. Teach someone what you know, even as simple as how to bake a chocolate chip cookie. Give a certificate or coupon outlining the experience you are willing share as a gift. Think of the far reaching consequences of everyone sharing their talents and skills, and the advantage of spacing out these experiences so that gifts can be enjoyed over a period of time rather than all in one day.

4) Give a personal gift that is meaningful and useful. Give something edible. Bake something, or cook a meal that can be used by the family. Create an album with special memories. These type of personal gifts carry much more value than store bought stuff.

Let your gifts this Eid be meaningful and useful, gifts that please the Almighty and bring joy to the recipients.
#16808
I have thought about this and i wonder whether they understand that their actions are against Islam.

For example, music. I feel some Muslims do not understand that it is haraam.

Likewise, Eid gatherings where na mahrams mix (like hotels, beach etc).

If this is true, how much is our responsibility for not enlightening the rest of our Muslim brethren about what is haraam?
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