How Malaysian Is Duit Raya

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Hari Raya Aidilfitri gifts, cash or otherwise, are a common tradition in many Muslim communities worldwide. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri being celebrated now, children have begun to debate who will collect the most duit raya this year.It is now an implicit rule among Malaysian Muslims to hand out money to children during Aidilfitri.
However, the origin of the practice remains a mystery as it is mentioned in neither the Quran nor the hadith, the two main sources of Islamic practice and belief.
Some claim it is exclusively practised among Malaysian Muslims, and others suggest it was adopted from other beliefs in Malaysia.
FMT takes a journey back in time to explore the meaning and origin of the custom.
What does duit raya mean for the Malaysian Muslim community?
According to sociologist Ahmad Zahiruddin Zabidi of Universiti Malaya, duit raya is based on the concept of charity and sharing for children, especially the less fortunate ones.
Zahiruddin said the money handouts are a manifestation of “happiness” during the festival of Aidilfitri.
“It is a manifestation of joy because Muslims are required to rejoice on the festive day, which symbolises victory after a month of fasting,” he told FMT.
He said contemporary Malay tradition, heavily influenced by Islamic teachings, emphasises the culture of charity and sharing within the community, including in the form of gifts.
“In the past, gifts often took the form of food, fruits, kitchen utensils, and other household items… but over time, they evolved into the form of banknotes as a substitute for physical gifts,” he said.
Is the practice unique to Malaysians?
Sociologist Abdul Rahman Embong said Aidilfitri gifts, cash or otherwise, are a common tradition in many Muslim communities worldwide.
Known in the Arab world as “eidiya”, they are believed to have originated during the era of the Fatimid Caliphate to garner the people’s favour towards the ruler.
Gold coins and delicacies were given to the public during festivities, a practice which later evolved into parents giving their children money.
However, Rahman said that duit raya in Malaysia could be a fusion of Muslim and Chinese culture in terms of its delivery, making it distinct from the practice in other Muslim communities.
“Handing out money (as charity) is in accordance with Islamic teachings. However, the use of envelopes in handing out duit raya could have been adopted from the concept of ang pow (red envelopes).
“In the past, duit raya was mainly given uncovered as coins. Children would then store it in their bamboo piggy banks.
“It wasn’t until the 1980s when Malays became urbanised by rapid economic development and modernisation that duit raya evolved into banknotes, and the use of envelopes became mainstream among Muslim communities in Malaysia. They are also used in Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia,” he told FMT.
Among the Chinese, ang pow or hong bao are red envelopes containing cash, presented at gatherings or festivities as a symbol of prosperity and fortune.
The earliest written record of ang pow is from the Han dynasty. There has yet to be a substantial study on the evolution of duit raya, according to Rahman.
“Whatever it is, duit raya should be celebrated as it encourages people to give charity, especially during the eventful day of Aidilfitri.” - FMT

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