What is Eid al-Fitr? 6 questions about the holiday and how Muslims celebrate it, answered

Ken Chitwood is a senior analysis fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana College–Purdue College Indianapolis and journalist-fellow on the Dornsife Middle for Faith and Civic Tradition on the College of Southern California Dornsife School of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Eid al-Fitr, one among Islam’s principal festivals, shall be celebrated April 9, 2024, in keeping with the Fiqh Council of North America. On the center of June, Muslims will rejoice Eid al-Adha. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of worldwide Islam, explains the 2 Islamic festivals.

1. What’s Eid?

Eid actually means a “competition” or “feast” in Arabic. There are two main eids within the Islamic calendar per 12 months – Eid al-Fitr earlier within the 12 months and Eid al-Adha later.

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long competition and is called the “Lesser” or “Smaller Eid” when in comparison with Eid al-Adha, which is 4 days lengthy and is called the “Higher Eid.”

2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a 12 months?

The 2 Eids acknowledge, rejoice and recall two distinct occasions which can be vital to the story of Islam.

Eid al-Fitr means “the feast of breaking the quick.” The quick, on this occasion, is Ramadan, which remembers the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to quick from dawn to sunset for a month.

3. How do Muslims rejoice Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr options two to 3 days of celebrations that embrace particular morning prayers. Individuals greet one another with “Eid Mubarak,” that means “Blessed Eid” and with formal embraces. Candy dishes are ready at dwelling and items are given to kids and to these in want. As well as, Muslims are inspired to forgive and search forgiveness. Practices fluctuate from nation to nation.

In lots of nations with massive Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a nationwide vacation. Colleges, workplaces and companies are closed so household, buddies and neighbors can benefit from the celebrations collectively. Within the U.S. and the U.Okay., Muslims could request to have the day without work from college or work to journey or rejoice with household and buddies.

In nations like Egypt and Pakistan, Muslims beautify their properties with lanterns, twinkling lights or flowers. Particular meals is ready and family and friends are invited over to rejoice.

In locations like Jordan, with its Muslim majority inhabitants, the times earlier than Eid al-Fitr can see a rush at native malls and particular “Ramadan markets” as individuals put together to trade items on Eid al-Fitr.

In Turkey and in locations that had been as soon as a part of the Ottoman-Turkish empire corresponding to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, additionally it is often known as the, “Lesser Bayram” or “competition” in Turkish.

4. How do Muslims rejoice Eid al-Adha?

The opposite competition, Eid al-Adha, is the “feast of the sacrifice.” It comes on the finish of the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage by thousands and thousands of Muslims to the holy metropolis of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that’s compulsory as soon as in a lifetime, however just for these with means.

Eid al-Adha remembers the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a check of religion. The story, as narrated within the Quran, describes Devil’s try and tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God’s command. Ibrahim, nonetheless, stays unmoved and informs Ismail, who’s prepared to be sacrificed.

However, simply as Ibrahim makes an attempt to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed instead of Ismail. Throughout Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to recollect Ibrahim’s sacrifice and remind themselves of the necessity to undergo the desire of God.

5. When are they celebrated?

Eid al-Fitr is well known on the primary day of the tenth month within the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is well known on the tenth day of the ultimate month within the Islamic calendar.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and dates are calculated based mostly on lunar phases. For the reason that Islamic calendar 12 months is shorter than the photo voltaic Gregorian calendar 12 months by 10 to 12 days, the dates for Ramadan and Eid on the Gregorian calendar can fluctuate 12 months by 12 months.

6. What’s the religious that means of Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr, because it follows the fasting of Ramadan, can also be seen as a religious celebration of Allah’s provision of power and endurance.

Amid the reflection and rejoicing, Eid al-Fitr is a time for charity, often known as Zakat al-Fitr. Eid is supposed to be a time of pleasure and blessing for the whole Muslim group and a time for distributing one’s wealth.

Charity to the poor is a extremely emphasised worth in Islam. The Quran says,

“Imagine in Allah and his messenger, and provides charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For these of you who consider and provides charity – for them is a good reward.”

This piece incorporates supplies from an article first revealed on Aug. 28, 2017. The dates have been up to date. This text is republished from The Dialog underneath a Artistic Commons license.

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