Eid-ul-Fitr

Celebrate Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr Notes on Islam

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Eid ul-Fitr is one of two Eid celebrations in the Islamic calendar, the other being Eid ul-Adha. It is also known as Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Aidalfitri (or Idul Fitri) and Lebaran in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The (Gregorian) date of Eid ul-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the new moon on the last day of Ramadan. The day after the first sighting of the new moon is the start of the new month, Syawal, on which Eid ul-Fitr falls. Because the new moon appears on different days in different parts of the globe, Eid may be celebrated on different dates, though these should only be a day apart.

In most countries, Eid ul-Fitr is a day of joyful celebration which starts early in the morning with a light breakfast (symbolically indicating that Ramadan, the month of fasting, is over), followed by a visit to the mosque or other place of worship, where the Eid prayer is said, followed by a sermon and another prayer for forgiveness.

Muslims dress in their best clothes, give alms to the poor and gifts of money to children, and in many places special food is eaten. In the Asian subcontinent and among communities from that area, it is common to decorate the hands with hennah. When Muslims meet, they greet each other with Eid Mubarak (although this greeting differs from place to place). In Malaysia they may instead say a greeting which asks for forgiveness. This day is traditionally one on which forgiveness is asked and given.

In the UK, a holiday date is set in the school calendar in advance, but this may not be accurate; it is not possible to be certain exactly when the new moon will be seen because it may be obscured because of bad weather.