Eid al-Fitr is the first of two main holidays celebrated by Muslims around the globe (the other being Eid al-Adha). It marks the end of Ramadan, which is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan is a time for nearly all Muslims to practise religious and spiritual discipline – typically by fasting from sunrise to sunset, as well as abstaining from things like smoking, sexual activity, and forms of immoral behaviour.
This not only helps Muslims to practise self-restraint and gratitude but it also allows them more time to devote more time to their faith. Much of Ramadan is spent studying the Qu’ran (the holy book of Islam) and attending services at mosques, as well as doing charity work and seeing family.
Eid al-Fitr is a celebration and a way for Muslims to pay respect and honour to Allah (God) for providing them with the health and strength to accomplish their religious and spiritual duties throughout the month of Ramadan.
Known as ‘The Festival of Breaking the Fast’ or ‘Lesser Eid’, Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal (the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar). And because the Islamic calendar follows the cycles of the moon and is around 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar (the typical calendar used by most of the West), Eid al-Fitr can fall on different dates each year.
Plus, because it begins with the first sighting of the crescent moon, Eid al-Fitr isn’t necessarily celebrated on the same date throughout the world. This year in the UK, the crescent moon is expected to be seen on the 21st of April – with the celebrations lasting up to three days.
Below, we look at a few ways Muslims from all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr…
Food
As the name, the ‘Festival of Breaking the Fast’, suggests, food plays a huge role in the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr. It’s a time for families, friends, and communities to come together and enjoy a wide variety of meals and treats after their month of fasting.
As there are lots of countries with strong Muslim populations all over the world, popular dishes for Eid al-Fitr can depend on where you live or where you’re from. Although, what’s for certain is that they’ll be plenty of sweet treats – a fact that’s earned Eid al-Fitr the nickname ‘Sweet Eid’.
For example, in countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, dishes like meethi seviyan and seviyan kheer are popular. These are sweet, nutty, and delicious deserts that use vermicelli-like rice noodles. Further west, in places like Lebanon and Syria, a firm favourite is maamoul – which are butter cookies filled with various tasty ingredients like dates and pistachios.
On the savoury side, complex and tasty meat dishes are commonly found on family dinner tables throughout the festivities of Eid al-Fitr. For example, in North African countries, tagine is a popular choice, and here in the UK, biriyani is often prepared.
To find out more about traditional and popular Eid al-Fitr dishes from all over the world, why not check out this article from The Tempest?
Prayer
Although the entire month of Ramadan is devoted to religious and spiritual practices and responsibilities, the beginning of Shawwal is no time to stop these – but to sustain the blessings granted by Allah throughout the previous month.
With this in mind, prayer is a huge part of Eid al-Fitr and many Muslims attend communal Eid prayers (known as Eid Salah). These are usually offered in large outdoor areas to accommodate as many people as possible, as well as in mosques and, less frequently, in homes.
Eid prayers are also typically hosted in the morning between sunrise and 12pm. And before attending Eid Salah on Eid al-Fitr, it’s recommended that you eat an odd number of something sweet like dates – as this is how the Prophet Muhammad ate on the morning of the first Eid al-Fitr.
In contrast, on Eid al-Adha (the other main Muslim holiday), Muslims wait until after the prayer to break their fast.
After the Eid Salah, worshippers will typically listen to an address (Khutbah) from the Imam (worship leader), before heading on to the rest of the festivities.
Charity
The core practices and beliefs of the Islamic religion are known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
The five pillars include Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage). The third of these pillars, Zakat (almsgiving), or charity, is another important part of how Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
The main way that charity factors into the festivities of Eid is known as Zakat al-Fitr, also known as ‘fitrana’. This is a form of charity given to the less fortunate at the end of Ramadan before the festivities of Eid al-Fitr commence.
Traditionally, Zakat al-Fitr consists of food donations (a minimum of four double-handfuls, to be exact) but nowadays, many consider money as an appropriate substitute. For example, some Muslims may choose to make a cash donation to Muslim Aid.
The primary purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is so that the poor and the less fortunate can also join in on the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Though, it also gives Muslims the chance to make up for any indecent acts or speech committed during Ramadan, and acts as a token of thanks to Allah for allowing them to succeed in their fast.
It’s each and every Muslim’s obligatory duty to pay Zakat al-Fitr, including children and the poor. If a child has a source of wealth, they must pay themselves. Otherwise, their parents or guardians must pay for them. It’s considered a sin (Haram) for any Muslim to fail to pay Zakat al-Fitr before the end of Ramadan.
Some other ways Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr
Besides food, prayer, and charity, there are lots of different ways that Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr all over the world…
- During the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Muslims will typically dress in their best clothes, as well as decorate their homes. To get an idea of what Muslims from all over the world wear during Eid, why not take a look at this article from Islamic Finder?
- Eid al-Fitr is a time for visiting family and sharing in the blessings of God, but it’s also common to share blessings amongst each other – for example, many adults present children with gifts of toys, games, or money during the festivities.
- There are many ways that Muslims greet one another during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, but the most common is an embrace, followed by ‘Eid Mubarak’, which means ‘blessed Eid’. To find out how different people from around the world wish one another a happy Eid, have a read of this article from Metro.
- In countries with large Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday. Although, here in the UK, it’s not. For this reason, lots of Muslims take the day (or days) off work.
“Eid al-Fitr is one to three days full of happiness and joy. It’s a celebration of completing a whole month of fasts and extra prayers.
“We rejoice by wearing new clothes, completing special Eid prayers in the morning at the mosque, visiting family, enjoying special meals, and giving children presents.
“It’s also a time to be thoughtful by giving charity to the poor so all Muslims can enjoy Eid regardless of society and spread love.”
ALIAHMED MOHAMMAD, TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS MANAGER AT TEAM REST LESS
Final thoughts...
With there being Muslim communities all over the world, there are a variety of different ways that people celebrate Eid al-Fitr. And we hope this article provided some useful information on the common customs, traditions, and festivities of Eid al-Fitr.
For more information on the Islamic religion and how non-Muslims can better understand our Muslim neighbours and community members, why not read our articles; 9 healthy fasting tips for Ramadan and How to show respect and support for people observing Ramadan?
And, to all our Muslim members and readers, we wish you Eid Mubarak!