EID AL FITR, which comes as the culmination of a month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting and self purification, is an occasion for celebration for everybody without any discrimination. Islam is an inclusive religion, which encompasses everybody and ensures the welfare and salvation of everyone, whether rich or poor, literate or illiterate, foreigners or citizens. It always prioritises a wholesome progress of the mind and body alike. If everybody in a country cannot celebrate Eid then the celebration will not be complete. The spirit of collecting and distributing Zakal Al Fitr is primarily aimed at ensuring equality among Muslims all over the world. Zakat becomes instrumental in celebrating Eid in its true spirit for the less privileged people helping them in getting them gifts for children, enough food for celebration and new dress.
Zakat Al Fitr makes sure that wealth is distributed equally instead of concentrating it in the hands of a few people. This time, during the Eid celebrations Qatar went an extra mile in involving everybody in the festivities. As part of the ‘Let’s Celebrate Eid Together’ initiative 50,000 food kits were distributed to community members, which is a true manifestation of the spirit of Eid Al Fitr and the government’s keenness to ensure the welfare of its expatriate communities, especially during this unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 pandemic. It helped the communities celebrate the festival at home conveying the message of staying together. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, Qatar Charity and Ooredoo joined hands to make the initiative a resounding success, which resulted in strengthening the bond between Qatar and members of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Gambia Nigeria, Tunisia, Ghana and Kenya. The kits were delivered to community organisations to be distributed among the needy. The kits included 50,000 Eid greeting cards, 4,500 toys for children, 2,279 gifts and 20,000 recharge cards from Ooredoo for workers.
The Ministries made use of the occasion to raise awareness to curb the spread of COVID-19 as the kits included awareness brochures in 11 languages and some 25,000 Stay at Home stickers. For Qatar, its expatriate communities, especially the guest workers, have been a priority in every activity. Every year during the Eid celebrations the country used to have special entertainment programmes for the communities, but this year because of the pandemic restrictions, there were no public celebration, but the festival spirit was very much alive. Following the directives from the authorities people stayed at home, avoiding gatherings and visits during the celebrations. Despite the lack of public festivities, the government ensured that the true spirit of Eid Al Fitr, that is love and concern for fellow beings and sharing of resources, were continued uninterrupted.
