Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid)
Eid al-Fitr 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. 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 "Allah is greater"), 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 and pay the Zakat and fitra before offering the Eid prayers.
Eid-al-Fitr is also called as the Eid-ul-Fitr, Idul-Fitr or Ramzan Id which indicates the end of Ramadan month means the month of fasting. This is the most religious and holy festival for the people belongs to the Muslim religion during which they break their fast (Fitr means to break).
Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid) Festival
Eid-ul-Fitr festival has been declared as the gazetted holiday all over the India which gets celebrated on the end of Ramadan month indicating 1st day of Islamic month of Shawwal. It is the festival of breaking fast in the end of Ramadan month (also known as the “Islam’s month of fasting” means month of fasting and prayer). People from Muslim community go for the communal prayers, listen khutba (means sermon) and help people by donating required things while celebrating festival.
They celebrate this festival as the first Eid of the year whereas Eid al-Adha is the second Eid. Eid ul Fitr is celebrated all over the world at the end of holy Ramadan as well as 1st day of Shawwal month. A special prayer is offered during this celebration called Salat or Islamic prayer in an open field or any large hall. They continue their fast in the faith of God till last day of the Ramadan month during which they pay “Zakat and fitra” before Eid prayers.
Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid) 2016
Eid-ul-Fitr 2016 would be celebrated by the people of Muslim religion on 8th of July, at Friday (in India), 7th of July, Thursday (in United Kingdom) and 6th of July, Wednesday (in North America).
However, it is celebrated on different dates in various countries of the world such as in Gulf countries it will be celebrated on 17th July, Friday, and in the North America it will fall on 18th of July, at Saturday. But according to the Muslim calendar, it falls during sunset of previous day means on 17th of July, at Friday.
According to the Islamic calendar (lunar calendar), it always falls on the same day however, according to the Gregorian calendar (solar calendar), date varies from year to year. The difference in the dates of festival celebration in both calendars is 11 days every year. The date of the festival celebration also varies from country to country according to the moon status. However, an actual date for celebrating the Eid-al-Fitr has been adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America which is based on the astronomical calculations.
When Eid-ul-Fitr Falls
According to the Islamic calendar and some Astronomical considerations, Eid-ul-Fitr festival traditionally falls during the sunset after the first sight of crescent moon. Sometimes, moon does not appear soon on 29th day of previous lunar month due to the clouds or sky brightness during moon set.
Eid -ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id) History
According to the Islam, it is considered that a great spiritualist Mohammed was blessed by the God (Angel Gabriel) through the divine knowledge in the month of Ramadan. So, the Eid-ul-Fitr festival is celebrated by the every person of Muslim religion in order to pay tribute to the God blessings paid to the Mohammed during the observance of Ramadan.
Prophet Mohammed had passed his divine knowledge to his next generations and followers which people celebrate by making fast and holy prayers throughout the Ramadan and break their fast in the end of month by eating delicious foods. They become spiritually devoted to the God for whole month through worship, offerings and prayers.
Eid-al-Fitr festival is celebrated to commemorate an Islamic prophet Muhammad and his attainments by the God by breaking fast after a long period of fasting on the 1st day of Shawwal month and end of Ramadan month. According to the culture and traditions in Islam, it is considered that this festival was first started in the Madinah when Prophet Muhammad had migrated here from Mecca.
He reached to the Madinah and told people that two festivals have been fixed by the Allah for you known as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Since then, both of the festivals have been marked as the holy occasions in Islam for paying the gratefulness towards God and remember Him.
Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id) Celebration
Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated by the people of Islam religion with great enthusiasm, joy and faith towards God. They organize variety of activities and events in order to get together with family members and neighbors to celebrate their most important and religious festival. It starts on the 1stday of the Shawwal month during which people attends the communal prayers, listens holy sermon and does lots of offerings to the poor people of community. They organize communal meals to get together, wear new clothes, hug to family members, distribute invitation cards and sweets including small toys to the children.
At this day government offices of national and state level including banks and post offices becomes closed. People of Islam religion close their stores, business enterprises and other organizations to cheerfully celebrate their festival. They involve in the prayer meetings, marches, parades and so many activities. They perform prayer to the Masjid in the early morning, Recite Takbir in the open field, greet each other, share gifts, organize fund-raising events and etc.
Significance and Ritual of Id ul-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is a great festival celebrated for two or three days by the people to enjoy. People say each other Eid Mubarak or Happy Eid to wish their family members, friends or neighbors. They enjoy by getting together and forget differences among them. They wake up in the early morning before the sunrise and offer Salatul Fajr means pre-sunrise prayer, brush their teeth, take bath, wear new clothes, apply perfume and go again for special Eid prayer. They celebrate this festival to pay tribute to the blessings of God, reveal happiness, do charity work, read takbirat in open and large field and etc.
In India, there were many popular places for Muslims to congregate to celebrate Eid at this time include the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, Aishbagh Idgah in Lucknow; in Kolkata there is a prayer held on Red Road. Muslims turn out in the thousands, as there is a lot of excitement surrounding the celebration of this festival. It is common for non-Muslims to visit their Muslim friends and neighbours on Eid to convey their good wishes. Eid is celebrated grandly in the city of Hyderabad which has rich Islamic heritage. Hyderabadi haleem a type of meat stew is a popular dish during the month of Ramadan, it takes centre stage and becomes the main course at Iftar(the breaking of the fast).Vogchod