Ramadan, one of Islam’s Five Pillars, lasts about 29-30 days, during which Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset until the new moon signals Eid. Fasting during Ramadan deepens dedication to Islam, fosters self-control, and promotes compassion for the less fortunate. Eid al-Fitr, or “The Feast of Breaking the Fast,” marks the end of Ramadan. Known also as “Eid ul-Fitr,” this celebration begins with the new moon in the tenth month. Muslims break their fast, gathering with friends and family to celebrate this joyful occasion.
History
It is thought that Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation of the Holy Quran during the month of Ramadan. Muslims observe fasts from sunrise to sunset and devote their time to prayer to Allah since they view Ramadan as a sacred month. This month comes to a close on Eid-ul-Fitr. With a lavish dinner, gatherings This feast is observed by Muslims to commemorate the triumphant end of Ramadan.
Date
The dates of Islamic festivals change annually in the Gregorian calendar due to the Hijri calendar, which is used by Islam. The Hijri calendar is a fully lunar calendar that calculates the duration of each lunar phase. Religious authorities observe the sighting of a new crescent moon to mark the beginning of each Islamic month. A lunar year is generally 354 days long, or 11 days shorter than a solar year, with 12 months. The dates of Islamic festivals therefore advance by 10–11 days annually. In the Islamic calendar, the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month, always coincides with Eid al-Fitr.
Importance of Eid al-Fitr
Muslims celebrate several religious holidays throughout the year, but Eid al-Fitr is frequently considered the most significant day on the Islamic calendar. It is reported that Prophet Mohammed personally initiated the religious celebration. The following points are the reasons behind the significance of Eid al-Fitr:
- Many Muslims believe that Eid draws them closer to Allah and serves as a time to express gratitude to him for all of their blessings, including strength and opportunity.
- The Muslim community finds great significance in this time of year as well, since many of them get presents from family members that represent the exchange of love and respect.
- Eid al-Fitr is significant for another reason: Muslims utilise it as an opportunity to ask Allah and other community members for forgiveness.
- Muslims also band together to help the less fortunate, whether it is by providing food, clothing, or cash to community members who might be in need.
Traditions
Families gather to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and spend the day in prayer. Muslims gather in mosques to offer prayers upwards. Gifts are also given by families to their loved ones. Although presents are freely given to friends and family, children frequently receive the most attention.
Celebration
On the eve of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims bathe and change into fresh attire before joining the group in prayer before dawn. The three days of festivity begin when the prayer is concluded. While the celebrations differ from nation to nation, they usually involve exchanging presents, spending time with loved ones, dressing up, paying respects at the graves of ancestors, and—after a month of fasting—indulging in a feast.
Since Eid is a time for joy and celebration, Muslims frequently send one another well wishes via customary greetings. During Eid al-Fitr, you may frequently hear the word “Eid Mubarak,” which translates to “Blessed Eid.” Muslims wish each other prosperity and well-being by saying this.
Muslims often use the Eid celebration as an opportunity to express their appreciation to Allah. This is particularly crucial given that they have been fasting and pondering throughout Ramadan for the last month. Muslims are obligated to aid the less fortunate and express thankfulness for what they have. Zakat is the term for this; it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Islamic law mandates that those who can afford it provide zakat—a donation—to the underprivileged and destitute. A big component of Ramadan is zakat, and Eid al-Fitr is a time to celebrate thanksgiving and generosity.
Food for Eid al-Fitr
Like other aspects of the holiday, cuisine can differ greatly between nations and areas during Eid al-Fitr. But regardless of where you’re celebrating, eating a date to mark the completion of the fast is customarily done before the feast.
For Eid-ul-Fitr, Muslims prepare lavish feasts featuring dishes like pulao, biryani, haleem, nihari, kebabs, and kofte. Desserts such as seviyan, sheer khurma, shahi tukda, and phirni are also essential treats. Sheer khurma, a warm, sweet vermicelli milk dessert, is a popular favorite during Eid celebrations. Families dress in new clothes, greet each other warmly, and enjoy meals with dishes like kibbe, samosas, fattoush, and various meat curries worldwide. Each family has its own way of celebrating, making Eid traditions diverse and unique.
What lessons might be drawn from Eid for others?
This festival may teach those who do not practise Islam some valuable lessons. It reminds us to share with those who are less fortunate than ourselves, to think about what we have to be grateful for, and to treat people with love and respect.
One of the most popular Islamic holidays, Eid-ul-Fitr, signifies the conclusion of Ramadan, a holy month during which Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset. Muslims commemorate Eid-ul-Fitr during Shawwal. On this day, they pray in particular. They gather in public, usually in mosques, on this day to pray for their advancement and well-being.
Conclusion
One of the two main Muslim festivals, Eid al-Fitr marks the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast every day from early sunrise until dusk. In the morning, there is a sizable prayer service for the entire community, which is followed by food and conversations with loved ones. To guarantee that everyone may take part in the celebrations, an obligatory charity known as Zakat al-Fitr is gathered before the prayer and given to the underprivileged. The Arabic name for the celebration, though it is known by many different names in various languages, is Eid al-Fitr.