Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training – Bro, after we all go through Ramadan filled with joy and laughter, it’s time to celebrate Eid al-Fitr! Here, it’s not just about celebrating, but also about seeking forgiveness and maintaining ties. In our hometowns, some people hold takbiran parades with cars and visit ancestral graves. At Alma Ata University, we can delve deeper into how Islamic caliphs celebrated Eid in history.
But imagine, in the past, during the times of kings and rulers, Eid al-Fitr was a moment for them to showcase the strength of Islam. They would come out with large armies and special ceremonies, singing songs that would amaze others. So, it’s not just us who have fun traditions, right?
Wow, it’s surprising that this cool tradition continued until the time of Sultan Abdul Hamid! This guy was really a cool sultan, bro. He was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman dynasty, known for his high sense of justice and great concern for Islam and his people.
During Eid al-Fitr, Sultan Abdul Hamid would bring out his troops while reciting takbir! That sounds like the most epic moment, right? Just imagine, strong soldiers marching while reciting takbir, it must have made the atmosphere so lively.
So, it’s no wonder he is known as a leader who not only excelled in leadership but also made the Eid celebration extraordinary. Sultan Abdul Hamid was truly a champion, bro!
This cool story about Sultan Abdul Hamid is not just a legend, bro. Habib Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Umar Asy-Syatiri, a great writer, immortalized all this in one of his books. He said: وَمُلُوْكُ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ يُسْتَحَبُّ لَهُمْ اِظْهَارُ الْقُوَةِ وَعِزِّ الْاِسْلَامِ. كَانَ الْمُلُوْكُ السَّابِقُوْنَ يَقُوْمُوْنَ بِاسْتِعْرَاضِ الْجُيُوْشِ، وَأَخِرُهُمْ السُّلْطَانُ عَبْدُ الْحَمِيْدِ، وَهُوَ أَخِرُ مُلُوْكِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. اِسْتَمَرَّتْ خِلَافَتُهُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً، وَكَانَ قَوِيَ الْاِيْمَانِ مُخْلِصًا لِدِيْنِهِ وَرَعِيَّتِهِ Translation: “Muslim leaders are recommended to display strength and the glory of Islam (on Eid). The previous kings used to display (their strength and the glory of Islam) by showcasing their armies, and the last to do this was Sultan Abdul Hamid, the last leader of the Muslims. His caliphate lasted for thirty years. He was a strong believer, sincere in his struggle for his religion and his people.” (Habib Ahmad Asy-Syatiri, Syarhu Yaqutun Nafis fi Mazhabi ibn Idris, [Darul Minhaj: 2009], page 177).
Wow, not only were the troops the center of attention, bro. The kings of the past also brought along brave young men to join in this exciting event. Just imagine, everyone wearing neat uniforms, not just soldiers but also horsemen.
So, if we look at it, everything was very well-organized. The cavalry, the motorized troops, all marched in their respective groups. It felt like watching a cool parade but in a more magnificent and serious atmosphere.
وَمِنْ عَادَاتِهِ فِي يَوْمِ الْعِيْدِ أَن يَخْرُجَ فِي الْحَرسِ، اَلَّذِي يُقَدَّرُ بِثَلَاثِيْنَ أَلْفٍ مِنَ الشَّبَابِ الشَّجعَانِ الْمُوَحِّدِي اللِّبَاسِ، تَتَقَدَّمُهُمُ السَّيَّارَاتُ وَالْعرَبَاتُ، وَيُنْشِدُوْنَ لَهُ السَّلَامَ الْمُلْكِي، وَيَعْتَزُّ كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ بِهِ Translation: “And among his (Sultan Abdul Hamid’s) customs on Eid was that he went out with the royal guard, accompanied by thirty thousand brave young men in uniform. In front of them were many motorized and horse-riding troops, they sang songs for him (the king) and royal greetings. With this custom, the Muslims were honored (in the eyes of adherents of other religions).” (Habib Ahmad asy-Syatiri, 177).
The stories of Islamic caliphs celebrating Eid in history indeed offer many lessons, bro! Besides showcasing the unity and solidarity of Muslims, they also explain how past kings worked hard to maintain our unity and solidarity. They were very serious about ensuring Muslims stayed on the same path, the path of unity.
At Alma Ata University, we can learn about how important unity is in Islam. Unity is like the soul of life, the foundation of strength for religious, societal, national, and state life. In essence, this unity is the key to achieving maximum results.
Allah SWT also emphasized the importance of unity in the Quran:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا Translation: “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you—when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.” (QS Ali ‘Imran [3]: 103).
So, that was an exciting story about Islamic caliphs celebrating Eid in history. I hope this writing can be beneficial for us all. May our Eid al-Fitr be more blessed and meaningful. Ameen. Wallahu a’lam.
Source:
- https://islam.nu.or.id/sirah-nabawiyah/kisah-pemimpin-islam-terdahulu-dalam-merayakan-hari-raya-rzZtg
- https://www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/three-wise-men-celebration_94783846.htm#fromView=search&term=Kisah+khalifah++Islam+dalam+Sejarah+Merayakan+Hari+Raya&track=ais_ai_generated®ularType=ai&page=1&position=3&uuid=8a60e77b-1753-427b-945d-18356c61e170
