Divided Pakistanis Celebrate `Eid

Pakistanis perform `Eid prayer in Multan. (Reuters)

"I appeal to the federal government that now the time has come when a strict action be taken against this smaller group of so-called Ulema," Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Chairman of Central Ruat-e-Hilal Committee, told IslamOnline.net.

Thousands of Pakistanis gathered at mosques and open air places for the `Eid prayer amid watertight security measures.

President General Pervez Musharraf attended the prayer with senior officials at Army Stadium in Rawalpindi, the garrison city near capital Islamabad, according to national television.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz performed the `Eid prayer at the grand Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

Pakistan's conservative North West Frontier Province and tribal areas bordering Afghanistan celebrated the start of `Eid Al-Adha on Sunday, December 31.

"Since the creation of Pakistan (1947), some Ulema have been misguiding the people of NWFP," charged Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman.

He urged the government to take a decisive action to guarantee that all Pakistanis celebrate their `Eid together.

"The decisions of national institutions must be followed," he insisted.

The government had formed the central moon-sighting committee to determine the start of Islamic lunar months and the beginning of the two main `Eid Al-Fitr and `Eid Al-Adha feasts.

Disunity

"Pakistan has the rare distinction of having two and sometimes three `Eids," Abdul Khalique Ali, a veteran journalist, told IOL.

"We expect a singular display of unity on `Eid Al-Adha, which is the most important festival for Muslims," he added.

"It is regrettable to make such kind of religious events controversial," said the journalist.

He urged scholars to find a solution to the problem through ijtihad (personal reasoning).

"`Eid must be celebrated on the same day all over the country, and if possible by the entire Muslim ummah.

"If the Ulema fail to reach a consensus then the parliament may devise ways and means to ensure the festival is celebrated on a fixed date."

Nearly three million Muslim pilgrims from across the world ascended Mount `Arafat, the climax of the annual hajj, on Friday, December 29, making Saturday the first day of `Eid.

Several Muslim countries, including Malaysia, celebrated Eid Al-Adha on Sunday, December 31.

Moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue.

One group says that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia.

A second, however, believes that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this.

Joyless

It is customary for almost everyone in Pakistan to wear new cloths on `Eid day.

Marketplaces are decorated to welcome the `Eid shoppers and special sale prices are offered on garments and shoes.

Shopping on Chaand Raat ( the night before `Eid start) is a very old custom in Pakistan.

People belonging to different income brackets pour out for last minute shopping.

Young girls and older women throng the markets to wear bangles made of fine glass, and get their hands printed with Hina (Mehndi).

Yet, in areas affected by the 2005 earthquake the picture is totally different.

"We used to make new clothes, bought shoes and cooked nice food. People came to visit us at home," recalled Naeem Ahmed, a middle-aged man in Ghari Habibullah camp, one of 18 camps set up by the government and privately-run relief organizations for people who lost their homes in the disaster.

"But now, everything is finished, what is there to celebrate?" he asked.

A powerful quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale had hit northwestern Pakistan and Kashmir on October 2005, killing more than 74,000 people and making 3.5 million others homeless.

The quake survivors are more concerned about the snowy winters as hundreds of them are still living in tents and temporary shelters.

"My wife and mother died in the earthquake and I have four children left," said Ahmed.

"I know they expect me to buy them shoes, and clothes on `Eid, but I am not in a position to do that. I have lost everything, my shop, my house and all the belongings," he said fighting back the tears.

Naeem, however, appreciates the efforts of some Islamic relief organizations, especially Al-Khidmat Foundation and Jammat-al-Dawa'h, which have been engaged in relief work since the quake.

"On last `Eid, we had received gifts from Al-Khidmat, and we expect the same this year too," he said.

"But this is not the permanent solution. We still are running from pillar to post to get the compensation money promised by the government so that we can reconstruct our own houses and shops.

"We don't need alms or donations. We want to stand on our own feet."

Al-Khidmat Foundation tried to bring a smile on the face of quake-ravaged Pakistanis.

"We have tried to bring some festivities into the camp, stringing up decorations between tents and distributing balloons, toys and bangles among the children," said Dr Tabassum Jafri, its secretary general.

"`Eid is a gift from Allah, and what better way to spend it than with people who need our help most."