Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The religious Eid is a single day and it is prohibited to fast that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

Etymology

The term "Eid al-Fitr" means "festival of breaking the fast" in Arabic. The term "Eid" (عيد) means "festival" or "feast" in Arabic, while "Fitr" (فطر) means "to break the fast". Thus, the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period.

Observances

Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the sighting of the new moon. The day starts with a small meal before dawn, known as Suhoor, followed by the first of the day's five prayers, the Fajr prayer. This is followed by the special Eid prayer, which is performed in congregation at open areas like fields, community centers, or mosques. After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations in homes, community centers or rented halls.

Traditions

Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) that consists of two Rakat (units) generally performed in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation (Jama'at) and has an additional extra six Takbir (raising hands to ears while saying "Allahu Akbar", literally "God is greatest"), three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and three of them just before Ruku in the second raka'ah in the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam.

Significance

Eid al-Fitr is a day of great merriment and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes. A common greeting during this holiday is Eid Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!”

See also

• Eid al-Adha
• Islamic calendar
• Islamic festivals
• Ramadan (calendar month)