Eid al-Fitr

Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during Ramadan. The fast, called sawm, is one of the five pillars of Islam. At the end of this month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Translated to "the festival of breaking the fast," Eid al-Fitr is a day of joy and celebration in fulfilling the duties of Ramadan, and a reward for abstaining during the previous month.

Eid al-Fitr is a time to appreciate the blessings Allah has given and to remember the less fortunate who might not have the means to celebrate. Before Ramadan ends, every adult Muslim with excess food must pay zakat al-fitr, an alms tax to the poor in the form of a charitable donation of food. Some Muslims go beyond this and also perform charity on Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr starts—and Ramadan ends—after sunset, with the sighting of the moon. It ushers in Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar.

A special prayer service at the mosque starts the day. The day's salah, or prayer, is given, followed by a sermon from the imam. Following the prayer service, many mosques host festivals or carnivals, with food, games, rides for children, and bazaars. Friends and relatives are often visited and celebrated with, and gifts and food are shared. Children often receive new clothes, toys, and jewelry. While Eid al-Fitr lasts one day, the celebrations sometimes last two or three days in Muslim countries.

The symbolism of Eid al-Fitr is that great rewards are gained by being patient and steadfast. The day is a representation of the bliss of the afterlife after devotion to Allah on Earth. The day was created by the Prophet Muhammad in Medina in 624 CE, two years after the Hijra Sharif when the Prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina. After arriving in Medina, he announced two days of celebration, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

How to Observe Eid al-Fitr

• Give zakat al-fitr.
• Pray the Eid salah in your congregation.
• Take a different route to and from Eid prayer, just as the Prophet did.
• Attend an Eid al-Fitr carnival or festival.
• Wear your best clothes.
• Visit with family and friends.
• Share gifts, food, and good wishes.
• If you are not a Muslim, you could learn more about the faith, reach out to Muslims you know and wish them a happy Eid al-Fitr, or take part in the Eid al-Fitr activities listed above.

Exclusive Content

Enjoying Checkiday? It takes a lot of support from fans like you to run a free website. For exclusive content and other perks, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Thank you!

Sponsor

This event does not currently have a sponsor. If you'd like to increase visibility for this event while gaining exposure for yourself or your brand, you can learn more here!

Something Wrong or Missing?

We would love to hear from you! Please contact us using this form.

Observation Notifications

Would you like to be notified before the next observation? Add this event directly to your calendar with this link. You may also sign up here to be told when other notifications are available!