An occasion for special prayers, family visits, gift-giving and charity, it takes place over one to three days, beginning on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar. Though some Muslims observe other special days throughout the year, including the beginning of the new year according to the Islamic calendar and the day the Prophet Muhammad was born, the two Eids are the only holidays celebrated by the entire Muslim community worldwide.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, in which dates are calculated based on the lunar phases, and each new month begins when the waxing crescent moon appears in the sky. Because the month lunar year is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar the day calendar used in the Western world , Islamic months and holidays fall in various seasons depending on the year.
During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, nearly all Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sundown and abstain from smoking, drinking including water and sexual activity during the daylight hours. Ramadan is the month in which the Prophet Muhammad received the teachings of the Quran, the Islamic holy book, as a guide for mankind and a means for judging between right and wrong.
Fasting during Ramadan, known as Sawm, is one of the five pillars , the basic principles that are essential to the Islamic faith. Because of the lunar calendar, Ramadan and the other months fall in different seasons depending on the year.
Over the course of their lives, Muslims around the world have the opportunity to experience fasting during long summer days, short winter days and everything in between.
As in a pilgrimage, fasting during Ramadan takes people out of their normal lifestyles and requires them to engage in solemn contemplation and examination. Experiencing hunger and thirst is supposed to heighten people's awareness of the sufferings of the poor, and gain a greater appreciation for what they have. An Egyptian woman prepares traditional cookies for the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival in the village of Tanta, north of Cairo.
After a month of prayer, devotion and self-control, Muslims celebrate the accomplishment of their sacred duties during Ramadan with the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast. The festival is a national holiday in many countries with large Muslim populations.
Celebrations of Eid al-Fitr typically last for three days, one day fewer than those of Eid al-Adha. Another of the five pillars of Islam is Zakat, or giving to those in need.
Muslims often prepare for Eid al-Fitr by giving money to charity so that less fortunate families can enjoy the festivities as well.
In addition to charity, Muslims are also encouraged to give and seek forgiveness during Eid al-Fitr, and look forward to the opportunity to fast again during Ramadan the following year. When is Eid al-Fitr ? By Zaina Alibhai. May 13, am Updated am. The aim of Ramadan is to promote peace while giving thanks to all they have. The freshest exclusives and sharpest analysis, curated for your inbox Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing!
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