Islam is said to be the religion of man with cause of ethics. Here equality in all respects among human beings without any discretion between male and female requires to be preserved. Both social and economic equality in Islam is just obligatory. While observing fast from the beginning of the month of Ramadan one has to realise the torment of those who remain hungry for want of food. So, a person must do something to ensure that no one among his neighbours should remain unfed. Here is the soul-searching ritual realisation of the person fasting in accordance with the tenet of Islam. You ask yourself as a Muslim (a person who believes in Islam) how far you are obliged to perform your fasting properly. This is a great learning in Islam. It teaches the Muslims how to maintain self-restraint (self-purification). The fasting of Ramadan symbolises a sort of Jehad (holy war waged against evils driving them out of the soul). During this period abstinence is a boon to an individual while charity is an opportunity for a wealthy Muslim to provide succor to the suffering humanity.

This month of Ramadan is also against the gluttonous greed of the affluent. They are warned to reduce their caprice and temptation. Thus, fasting inspires one for self-rectification. Through this learning none of the true Muslims can become the evildoer.

This fasting also makes the mind of an individual balanced and patient towards recluse of purified soul where the spirit of love for the have-nots wakes up. A moral obligation among human beings builds up to bring about a serene and sacred compassionate feeling to keep from all of the social turbidity. At the end of the month of Ramadan comes the great day of Eid-ul-Fitr that is the most ecstatic joy of charity.

Prior to saying prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr every able and affluent person among Muslims must pay Zakat (proportionate share of the price of property) and Fitra (charity) to the needy relatives or neighbours without any hesitation and after saying the prayer one must embrace another to confirm amity according to Islamic brotherhood. In this performance there should not be made any difference between the rich and the poor, high and low. Everybody must be treated equal irrespective of so-called social status. This is the glaring example of social uniformity in Islam. Eid-ul-Fitr does neither invite competition of fashion shows between the rich and the poor on any account nor allow undue privileges of unfair income or expenditure. This joyous day of great festival otherwise hardly entertain fun or frolics, pomp and grandeur, pride of passion or vaunt of riches. It is straight love for humanity as a whole. Be happy here making others happy. That is why distribution of sweetmeats among all irrespective of age, sex, caste or creed, Muslim or non-Muslim, poor or rich, high or low is in vogue among Muslims. And this cosmopolitan custom is continuing since such a great festival was started by the great Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh) since his hijrat (migration) from Mecca to Yathrib (now Madinah) in 622 AD.

At that time the people of Arabia got influenced by the Persian culture and civilisation. They used to celebrate Nauroz and Mihrajan for a few days with funs and frolics, enjoying often vulgar dances of women and gambling, unusual violence and conflicts often led them to bloodshed. Moreover there was a gulf of difference between the rich and the poor in course of celebration of this new year's day (Nauroz) along with other festivals. These were absolutely incompatible with Islam. Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh) was shocked having seen such immoral and inhuman carnival. He rather introduced Eid-ul-Fitr to Islam for the Muslims. This is a huge congregation of people saying prayer to the Almighty Allah's blessings for the benefit of all irrespective of the haves and have-nots. And this great assembly of united people of all classes was throng with the great expectation of love and amity among all in the community. There is no bar of such assembly and congregation on the part of Muslim women also.

Religious ideals are not mere words of ethics. We must have them in our everyday life in practice. The very simple adage to be considered is that practice makes a man perfect. Islam professes perfect unity of human beings. That is the reason why five times prayer in jamat (assembly) is obligatory for the Muslims. And each mosque is the local assembly house for the Muslims to strengthen the fortitude of faith without any distinction between the rich and the poor. This faith must have reciprocal effect both social and economic in order to make the community free from all material bonds and live peacefully. Eid-ul-Fitr is the proof of that large assembly of the faithful to have the test of fraternity. Let Muslims fortify that spirit of Islam faithfully by the grace of Almighty Allah.

Let us sing Nazrul's song in unison: "After the end of the fasting of Ramadan the Eid-ul-Fitr of grand pleasure has come ... Let's sacrifice our excess wealth to those have-nots expecting their share of our riches." And Allah's message must be remembered by every Muslim: "Behold, Allah enjoins justice, and generosity towards [ones] fellowmen; and forbids all that is shameful and all that runs counter to reason,"

Al-Quran, Surah, An Nahl; 90 (part).

M. Mizanur Rahman, a retired principal, is a freelance writer.