Eid-ul-Fitr

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and if often known as the ‘smaller Eid’

Introduction

• Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.

• Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting. • Eid symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. • It is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal.

• Eid ul-Fitr is a day long celebration. • Eid is decided on the sighting of the moon, therefore it is decided on the night before Eid.

Ramadan

• Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. • It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which Muslims don’t eat, drink, smoke, and doing anything that is bad; from dawn until sunset.

• Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. • Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayer than usual. • During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in staying away from everyday evils.

• The dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year as it is a moving festival depending on the moon. Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were claimed to have been to the Prophet Muhammad.

• In Ramadan you can choose what to break your fast with, it is traditional to break it with dates and water.

On Eid

• Common greetings during this holiday are the Arabic greeting ‘Eid Mubarak ‘("Blessed Eid") In addition, many countries have their own greetings based on their language and traditions.

• Muslims wake up early in the morning and have a small breakfast (as a sign of not being on a fast on that day) • Then they attend a special Eid prayer (salah) that is performed in mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. • Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) for the occasion. • It is then customary to embrace the people sitting on either side of oneself, whilst greeting them. • After the prayers, people also visit their family and friends. People give gifts and take pictures.

• Men usually wear Punjabi and girls wear salwar kameez or sarees. • Girls also put henna on their hands.

In a mosque

• There is a Khutbah (speech) in which the Imam community like to forgive people. • When the local imam declares Eid ul-Fitr everyone greets and hugs each other.

• As Eid ul-Fitr is not a recognized public holiday in the United Kingdom, Muslims are happy to attend the morning prayer. • Areas with a lot of Muslims, normally schools and local businesses give days off to the community. In the rest of the UK it is not recognized as it is not on a fixed date. • Eid-ul-Fitr it is decided by the sighting of the moon

By Naseem Ahmed

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