Eid al-Fitr, also known as Eid ul-Fitr or Eid, is an important Muslim holiday commemorating the completion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and purification. It is observed yearly by Muslims all over the world.
What is Eid al-Fitr, and Why Do Muslims Celebrate It?
Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Fitr.
The holiday's name, Feast of Breaking the Fast, relates to the festive meal that Muslims eat before daybreak on Eid day to break their fast. During Ramadan, people abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual interactions from sunrise to sunset each day.
What Is Eid Al-Fitr and What Does It Mean?
Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Fitr.
Eid Al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday celebrated in every Muslim community around the world. You don't have to be a Muslim to understand that Ramadan means fasting, but why do Muslims celebrate Eid at sunset when they break their fast? Learn more about one of Islam's most significant holidays.
During Ramadan, all adult, healthy Muslims observe a fast from sunrise to sunset. They abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse during daylight hours. Every year during Ramadan, news headlines concerning various governments' decisions to allow or prohibit non-Muslim residents from fasting appear in my social media feeds. Continue reading to learn more about why non-Muslims should not fast, how fasting works for those who do, and more!
Eid Al-Fitr: Its Origins
According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Muhammad and his companions broke their fast on June 7, 624, during Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar calendar). Later that day, when he returned home, he told his wife Khadijah how nice it was for him to be able to share food with others. He stated that he will continue to fast as long as there are starving people.
There should be no more fasting until everyone has enough food and can eat properly. God approved Prophet Muhammad's prayer to put an end to hunger in all regions of the world. Since then, every year after Ramadan, Muslims all around the world have celebrated Eid Al Fitr with a large feast known as Iftar!
If we had to sum up what Eid Al Fitr is all about in one line, it would be: We give thanks to God for answering Prophet Muhammad's supplication. As a result, when Muslims celebrate Eid Al Fitr, they do so with food, laughter, and joy!
What is the duration of Eid Al-Fitr?
For Eid Al-Fitr, there are three days of festivities. The first day, known as Arafah Day, celebrates Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night voyage on a horse named Burqa from Mecca to Jerusalem and returned. The next day is Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the start of Shawwal and the first day when it was thought appropriate to fast because it was God's order before he revealed Ramadan fasting.
(On what became known as Eid Al-Fitr, the prophet notified his companions that they had completed their fast.) Finally, there's Id al-Adha, or the Sacrifice Feast, which commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael in response to God's mandate.
Practices and Traditions
Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Fitr.
Fasting during Ramadan, according to Islamic belief, demonstrates devotion to God. Fasting during Ramadan has a significant cultural impact in Muslim societies, with community members planning meals for iftar (the fast-breaking meal) and assembling in mosques for special prayers after sundown on each Ramadan day.
The holy day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, is a time for Muslims to come together and rejoice after fasting for a month. Families dress up in their finest attire for celebrations that include lavish dinners and exchanged presents throughout the three days leading up to Eid al-Fitr.
Eid al-Fitr, like most Islamic holidays, has roots in both tradition and history. The customs linked with Ramadan are based on a miraculous event: according to Islamic belief, God delivered a series of revelations to Mohammed during his fast, which would later become most of what is now known as Islam. The events leading up to those revelations culminated at Eid al-Fitr, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan.