Why One Month of Eidul Fitri?

Some might be asking why Muslims in Malay World celebrate Eidul Fitri for an entire month when Muslims elsewhere do it for only a day.

Here are three reasons, forgiving, giving and loving:

Forgiving: For Muslims in the Malay World, Eidul Fitri is a time of forgiveness. They travel far and wide to meet with people they've not seen for sometime to apologize for any wrongdoing. That takes a month given the huge families we have here. The numbers are growing....

Giving: Eidul Fitri is a time of charity. Muslims in the Malay World use this time to assist needy friends and relatives by giving money to children. Visiting successful loved ones gives one sources of inspiration, contacts and good advice. We can call it "Hari Raya Networking."

Loving: Visiting for an entire month is the Malay way of showing their deepest love. Every other family will cook their best dishes and delicacies for everyone else to have a taste of love expressed in food.

In the past, "I go to your home to taste the rendang and you come to mine to eat the kari ayam. Nowadays, "I go to your open house where dozens others will come and eat a six course meal and you come to mine where hundreds others will follow." All for Love.