Eid-al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr, Eid
ul-Fitr, Id-Ul-Fitr, Eid) is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It
marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims
attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr
(charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr.Eid al-Fitr (“festival of
breaking of the fast”), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast,
Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid, is an important
religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan,
the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day
during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the
conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire
month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month
of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a common goal of
unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the
observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of
celebration varies by locality. However, in most countries, it is generally
celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia.
Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two Rakats
(units) and generally offered in an open field or large hall. It may be
performed only in congregation (Jama’at) and, has an additional extra six
Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while saying “Allāhu Akbar”, literally
“God is greatest”), three of them in the beginning of the first raka’ah and
three of them just before Ruku’ in the second raka’ah in the Hanafi school of
Sunni Islam. Other Sunni schools usually have twelve Takbirs, seven in the
first, and five at the beginning of the second raka’ah. This Eid al-Fitr salat
is, depending on which juristic opinion is followed, Fard (obligatory),
Mustahabb (strongly recommended, just short of obligatory) or mandoob
(preferable).
Muslims believe that they are commanded by Allah, as mentioned in the Quran, to
continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan[5] and pay the Zakat and fitra
before offering the Eid praye.