Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is a widely celebrated festival for the Muslims and this year, 2024, it likely fall on the 10th of April. Based on the calendar of lunar, the Eid al-Fitr has been commemorated right after the halt of the Holy day or month of Ramadan while the Muslims people fast from sunrise up to sunset, therefore, Eid al-Fitr has been known as well as a ‘Festival of the Breaking Fast.’ Many individual observe the festival through visiting family and friends, making special sweets and foods, exchanging gifts that are the same with the festivity. In lots of South Asian countries such as India and Pakistan, the elders of the public give their children the gifts of money that is called as ‘Eidi.’ Some other religious traditions are also seeing Muslims going to their special morning prayer during the Eid day. Once the prayer ended, all Muslims in their congregation and be it your friend or a stranger are exchanging Eid greetings through hugging each other.
EID AL-FITR HISTORY
The day of Eid al-Fitr changes every year base on the Islamic calendar that will rely on the lunar cycles. Each year, the day shifted through about one 10-day margin that falls earlier and earlier. The Eid al-Fitr occasion is being loved by Muslim community from around the world and it is being celebrated for three days. Right after the month of abstinence and fasting, the Muslims are celebrating the festival with so much fanfare. This is the day also when the ‘Zakat’ the compulsory type of charity for the Muslim people who is able to pay it, is paid. The Zakat, which amounted to 2.5% from the actual or gross net of the Muslim household, has been given to a less fortunate in the society. ‘Fitrana’ is one more form of charity which is given also during this time. This kind of charity aimed to rectify any unintentional mistakes an individual may have done while fasting.
Many states celebrated the Eid al-Fitr base on their specific traditions and cultures. In the part of Middle East, the people are offering morning prayers through going to the specially assigned area known as ‘Eid-gah’. The Eid-gah is normally a huge empty space. Unlike the other Muslim prayers, the Eid morning prayers don’t have that special call for the prayer. In some other countries such as Malaysia and Pakistan, the people are visiting their friends and their families, taking along special food items and gifts. These countries’ customs are also seeing people making exclusive food dishes such as ‘sawaiyan’ and ‘sheer khurma’ on the Eid morning. The sweet stuffs are made from sugar, dry fruits and vermicelli milk. The South Asians also referring Eid al-Fitr being ‘choti’ Eid which means the little Eid. There had been two Eid festive in Islam; the Eid al-Adha has considered the ‘larger’ festival as it remembers the end of their Hajj pilgrimage with animals sacrifices such as goats, cows, camels and sheep.
TIMELINE OF EID AL-FITR
1984 — Iran’s Special version of Eid Stamps
Iran country publishes and distributed special edition of Eid al-Fitr stamp that highlight the Eid crescent plus the mosque with the congregation.
2000 — Yearly 2 Eid al-Fitr
Since the Eid al-Fitr will fall on the unlike day each year on the calendar of Gregorian, 2 Eid al-Fitr festive are celebrated, one in the beginning of every year and the other one during the end.
2006 — Egypt Rise in the Sexual Assault on the Eid al-Fitr
There is the drastic rise in the sexual assault cases during the Eid al-Fitr in Egypt.
2012–3-Day Eid Celebrations in Tunisia
Tunisia officially declared the 3-day Eid al-Fitr festivity with preparation for the festival beginning days before.
FAQS EID AL-FITR
1. What is this Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr marked the halt of the holy month of fasting and Ramadan of the Muslims people and is observed during the primary three days of the Shawwal, the 10th month of the calendar of Islam. Eid al-Fitr can likely be celebrated but will depend on when Ramadan begin in individual country.
2. What happens during Eid al-Fitr?
Muslims are usually wearing new shoes and clothes on the Eid al-Fitr. They’re also visiting their friends and family, and ends the day with the special meal. Women commemorate the occasion also through applying mehndi or henna on their feet and hands.
3. Why are they celebrating Eid al-Fitr?
It’s widely believed that their Prophet Muhammad got his first exposure of Holy Quran during the month of Ramadan. The Eid al-Fitr had been a joyous occasion also that celebrated all the merits of Islam and it unifies people.
4. Why the Eid al-Fitr become important?
a. It is an observance of good times
The Eid al-Fitr marked the halt of Ramadan and that is the month-long custom of abstinence and fasting. Muslims do not drink or eat anything from sun up to sun down. Ramadan is the time of expression for the Muslims as they’re made to comprehend what the needy surrounding is going through when there is nothing to drink or eat. The Eid al-Fitr, therefore, is not the time only of returning to normal life, however it is a reminder also of the things that the Muslim should be thankful about.
b. It is an observance of gatherings
Celebrations and merriment abound during the Eid al-Fitr. The people are visiting their friends and their family, often going for some overnight stays.
c. It is an observance of food
The Muslim prepares special food stuffs during Eid al-Fitr. It can be sweet dishes such as ‘sheer khurma’ or the savory platters that consist of mutton or chicken, it is a festivity of food and of being thankful for it.
5. How to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr?
a. Observe it with family and friends
Eid al-Fitr festivity is best enjoyed with family and friends. It marked the finish of Ramadan together with the others by holding a get together, online or offline, then indulging in some of the good merriment and also food.
b. Go gift shopping
When the Eid al-Fitr rolled around, brands and companies take out their special seasonal products. It is the ideal time to get special gifts for your loved ones and to let them discern that they are remembered.
c. Cook delicious foods
The Eid al-Fitr has been called also as Sweet Eid or ‘meethi’ Eid because this festivity sees several Muslims households enjoying the occasion through making sweet dishes. Some Muslims are trying new recipes while some preferred the old favorite sweets. Either way, the festivity will certainly be the sweetest.
FACTS ABOUT ZAKAT
Zakat means purification. The Zakat that comes from the Syriac Arabic that means ‘purification,’ is meant for ‘purifying’ the soul and the wealth of Muslims.
Zakat is compulsory. To those that can afford it, who are wealthy enough, the Zakat becomes compulsory, that they should give it to the less fortunate.
Zakat as one of the Islam pillars. There are 5 pillars of Islam which a Muslim should always uphold, and so one of them will be Zakat.
Zakat eliminates inequality. It is meant to eradicate the socio-economic variation that communities face.
Zakat is valid after a year. It becomes compulsory for the Muslim people after a year of holding them the Nisaab sum of wealth and that is the minimum porch of wealth.