The night preceding Eid-ul-Fitr has a special grace and significance. It is the night to be ready to welcome Eid-ul-Fitr-the festival of joy. 'Eid-night' is the preparatory night for receiving the Eid as ordained by Allah Rabbul Aalameen. Offering gratitude to Allah, paying Sadaqatul Fitr and two raka'at Eid congregational prayer, entertaining relatives, friends and giving alms to the needy are rituals and customs of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Hazrat Muhammad (SM) said, "He who passes the nights of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha through prayers will never waiver or be afraid of the Day of Judgement while others will tremble and quiver on that Fateful Day."
The month of Ramzan trains us to attain 'taqwa', avoid evils and do virtuous deeds according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah. We should firmly pledge to follow these in our everyday life throughout the year. The joy of Eid presupposes this submission or commitment from us unconditionally.
So, it calls for our voluntary readiness to accept the day with all its rituals, injunctions, spirit and message. We should seek forgiveness from Allah for our known and unknown faults relating to the observance of month-long fasting of Ramzan.
The Holy Quran and Sunnah commands us to respond to the distress of the crying humanity. The Holy Quran says : And why should ye not/Fight in the cause of Allah/And of those who, being weak,/ And ill-treated (and oppressed)?-/Men, women, and children,/Whose cry is : Our Lord!/Rescue us from this town,/Whose people are oppressors;/And raise for us from Thee/One who will protect;/And raise for us from Thee /One who will help!"[(Sura Nisa 4:75) (The Meanings of the Holy Qur'an by Moulana Abdullah Yusuf Ali)]
Let the Eid-ul-Fitr remind us of our great responsibility towards the suffering humanity. Let Almighty Allah help the Ummah by His infinite Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace. Eid Mubarak!