Selamat Hari Raya!

Hari Raya Celebration 7th August 2013

Objectives of Presentation and Sharing

• To understand the significance of celebrating Hari Raya

• To promote social and cultural cohesiveness amongst students

• To learn to appreciate one another and strengthen bonds between friends, teachers and family members

Pop Quiz!

1)Hari Raya Puasa marks the Muslim New Year.

TRUE or FALSE?

Pop Quiz!

ANSWER:

FALSE• Hari Raya Puasa falls on the 1st day of Syawal,

the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. • The Islamic new year is in the month of

Muharram which is in November this year.

Pop Quiz!

2) Hari Raya Puasa is also known as _________.

A. Hari Raya HajiB. Hari Raya AidilfitriC. Hari Raya Aidiladha

Pop Quiz!ANSWER:

B. Hari Raya Aidilfitri

• In Malay, ‘puasa’ means ‘Fasting’, therefore in Malay-speaking countries, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is also known as Hari Raya Puasa. In Arabic, Aidilfitri means ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’

• Hari Raya Aidiladha, on the other hand, is also known as Hari Raya Haji (Haji = Pilgrimage to Mecca)

Pop Quiz!

3) Hari Raya Puasa is a celebration meant for the Malay community only.

TRUE or FALSE?

Pop Quiz!

Answer:

FALSE• Hari Raya is NOT a cultural celebration (e.g Chinese

New Year); it is a RELIGIOUS celebration, celebrated by Muslims all over the world, regardless of their race (e.g Chinese Muslims in China, Indian Muslims in India etc.)

Chinese Muslims in

China

So - the big question :

What happens on the morning of Hari Raya Aidilfitri?

Hari Raya Celebration

• Congregational (Mass) Prayers at mosques or wide, open spaces

• Seeking forgiveness fromone another

• Visiting relatives, neighbours and friends

But one of the most significant practices on the morning of Hari Raya is…

ACT of SEEKING FORGIVENESS

What is the purpose of this practice?

• To strengthen ties between family members and friends

• To apologize for any wrongdoings that we may have done to the person, whether we realize it or not

• To renew and revive relationships and ties, make sure that the relations continue

Significance

• The act of seeking forgiveness is very significant during Hari Raya.

• The full Hari Raya greeting: “Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir dan Batin”

means, Wishing you a Joyous Hari Raya,

With Sincere Apologies

How is it done?

• Let’s watch a video of a Malay family practicing the act of seeking forgiveness

http://youtu.be/aBEoJDMfrRM

Highlights from video

• First, the wife seeks forgiveness from the father

• Children take turns to seek forgiveness from their parents

• When you are seeking forgiveness from an elder person, you should kneel down

• The salam shown in the video is not the normal one; you are to hold the person’s hands with both palms, seek forgiveness, and kiss his/ her hands, like this (demo by presenters)

• If the person you are seeking forgiveness from is of the same age/ status, you do not have to kiss his/ her hands

• However, you can only salam a person of the same gender (male -> male) UNLESS it is your family member (e.g a brother can salam and kiss the hands of his elder sister)

WHO do you seek forgiveness from?

• Family members, relatives• Neighbours• Friends• Colleagues

You can also seek forgiveness from non-Muslims e.g your Chinese neighbour or your Indian teacher.

What is said when you seek forgiveness?

• Example 1- child to mother:“Mother, please forgive me for all my wrongdoings; please bless all the food that you have sustained me with all this while and thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for me”.

I forgive you, my son. I pray that you will be a good person.

What is said when you seek forgiveness?

• Example 2: Between friends

Ahmad, please forgive me if I have ever hurt your feelings

with my words or actions. I hope we can

always be friends.

The same goes for me, Faizal.

Forgive me too if I have said something

hurtful or done something bad to you. I hope our friendship

will last.

Accepting the apology (to forgive) and RECIPROCATE

• As you can see, in both examples, the person who is apologized to ACCEPTS the apology graciously.

(to err is human, to forgive is divine)• It is also good to return the gesture and seek

forgiveness from the person in return

Sincerity and Integrity

• What is MOST important is that you are SINCERE about seeking forgiveness. There is no point in seeking forgiveness if you do not mean what you say

• If, in your utterance, you promised to change or not repeat you mistake, you have to uphold what you say; have integrity and do the right thing.

Now, we will show you how it is done!

• Presenters -> teachers• Malay students -> friends

Next, let’s try this out!

Step-by-step instructions

• Do not worry- this is NOT a religious practice. Doing this does not make you a Muslim or lose faith in your religion!

• Turn to the person sitting next to you; if he/ she is of the same gender, hold his/ her hands with both palms. After you say your apology, place your palm on your chest/ near the heart

• If both of you are of different genders, just say your apology.

• Take turns - Declare your apology!

What you can say…

• Dear ________________, please forgive me if I have done something wrong to you all this while, especially if what I’ve said or done before has hurt your feelings. I am truly sorry. I hope you will continue to be my friend.

• Dear ______________, forgive me for all the bad things I have done to you (e.g shouting at you, laughing at your mistakes, making fun of you etc.) …. I will not do it again.

Accept your friend’s apology!

• After you have been forgiven, it is your friend’s turn to apologize to you.

• Say it if you mean it, and say it like you mean it!

Thank you!

• Thank you for listening to our presentation and participating in this activity

• We hope that you have learnt the significance of Hari Raya and understand the importance of seeking forgiveness

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir dan

Batin!