Muslim Festivals

Festivals are means to celebrate a happy occasion, be it be religious, cultural, harvest cutting or a follow up of an event coming down from the ancestors. These festivals are usually celebrated with much fanfare, loudness and merry making. When a new ready harvest is being cut, bands and bugles are beaten and blown to encourage the crop cutters and make it a day full of festivities.

Festivals when related to the religions are much simpler and less noisy. These are celebrated with religious zeal and fervour and every one joins hands to celebrate the day, with humility to thank Allah for having let us live to the day of festival, with entire families and friends.

As for Islam, there are two major festivals that are held in each lunar calendar. These are known as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. This reference page provides links to our earlier posts which give detailed information about each of these two festivals. 

Eid al Fitr: 

Eid al-Fitr is the first festival in a lunar year which is held and at the end of the month long fasting in month of Ramadan. one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims and commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan and siting of the new moon of the next Islamic month Shawaal,  Since it is held after the end of month long fasting, the word Eid al Fitr means the festival of breaking the fast.. Eid al Fitr is also known as ʿĪd al-Fiṭr "عيد الفطر "- or Al-ʿĪd al-Ṣaghīr (العيد الصغير The smaller / lesser Eid). It is also known as Meethi (sweet) Eid in some countries as on this day sweetened dishes are prepared and devoured happily.

Herein under are links to our earlier posts which give detailed information about how this type of Eid is celebrated and how special charity is doled out to help those who cannot afford to buy new clothes or prepare special dishes exclusive to the day:

• Eid al Fitr: The festival of breaking the fast
• Eid ul Fitr عيد الفطر Mubarak / Eid greetings to everyone around the world 
• Zakatal Fitr: Why, when and to whom it is given 
• The minimum scale of Zakatul Fitr 
• Five Most Favoured Sunnah of the Prophet of Allah on Eid Day 
• Sunnah of the Prophet of Allah on Eid Day

Eid al-Adha:

Eid ul-Adha "عيد الأضحى" or العيد الكبير (Eid-al-Kabir) is the latter of the two Islamic festivals, celebrated soon after the performance of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. This Eid is celebrated to honour the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to God's command. And his son also willingly obeyed what his father had been asked to do. However, when Prophet Ibrahim was about to cut the throat of his son, Allah accepted Prophet Ibraheem's willingness obedience and replaced his son with a lamb to sacrifice instead. While those performing Hajj, sacrifice an animal, which may be a lamb, goat, cow or camel. Muslims all over the world also emulate the sacrificing of animals to be part of the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim. 

Herein under are links to our previous posts on Eid al-Adha:

• What is Eid al Adha - How it differs from Eid al Fitr
• Why do Muslims Sacrifice Animals on Eid al Adha 

In Sha Allah (God willing) we will continue to add more substance so that the spirit of celebrating these two festivals is well understood.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand basics of Islam as enunciated in Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

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Eid al Fitr: The festival of breaking the fast

The month of Ramadan is a month of test for the Muslims, for it is a month in which every Muslim undergoes a strict test of patience, hunger and thirst besides abstaining from many a Halal things for the love of Allah. The rigours of fasting from dawn to dusk, specially in summers, is really telling. Yet Muslims endure all hardships of the month lovingly and faithfully. In fact the month of Ramadan, the 9th month Islamic lunar calendar, is much awaited rather eagerly by the Muslims every year, and after fasting for the entire month, they bid farewell rather sadly and a heavy heart for the month carried special blessings and rewards that no other month carries.

With the end of the month of Ramadan, the new moon of the Shawaal, the tenth Islamic month, brings in the glad tidings of a festival of breaking the fast. That is life return to normal as was before entering into the month of Ramadan a month ago.  Due to dependence on the lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan can be of 29 or 30 days.

If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the holiday is celebrated the following day. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country.

The first day of Shawaal is thus known as the Eid al-Fitr / ʿĪd al-Fiṭr "عيد الفطر "- the festival of breaking the fast. It is also called Al-ʿĪd al-Ṣaghīr (العيد الصغير The smaller / lesser Eid). It is also known as Meethi (sweet) Eid in some countries as on this day sweetened dishes are prepared and devoured happily.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr originated by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he migrated from Makkah to Medinah. Anas, a well-known companion of the Islamic prophet, narrated that, when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arrived in Medina, he found people celebrating two specific days in which they entertained themselves with recreation. At this, Muhammad remarked that God had fixed two mandatory days of festivity: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (The second of the canonical festivals of Islam).

Muslims start to prepare for celebrating the Eid al Fitr in the last days of the Ramadan and an increased hustle and bustle is observed in the markets, families buying new clothes and shoes. For girls, the preparations also include buying glass bangles, gaudy coloured dresses with matching shoes and purses/bags.

The Eid day dawns with the special Eid prayer congregation at central places, rather than small masjid, so that Muslims en mass could join their brethren on this happy day. It is forbidden to keep fast on the Eid day. For this very reason, one must eat something, even a piece of date, before proceeding for the Eid prayers.

It is actually haram (prohibited) to fast on Eid day, as stated in a Hadith: He [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] forbade fasting on the day of 'Eid) al-Fitr and the day of al-Nahr (the day of sacrifice, i.e., 'Eid al-Adha).

After the prayers are over, all greet each other by embracing and wishing Eid Mubarak (greeting). Special dishes are prepared at homes by the ladies, specially sweet dishes. Sheer Khurma is one of the most favourite sweet dish of the day. Sheer means milk in Persian and khurma means dates; it is a delectable and nutritious mix of Seviyan (a form of vermicelli), dates and milk. This simple yet delicious dessert is versatile as it can be served hot or cold.

Cognizant of the fact that the poor may not have enough money to also participate in the festivities of the day, it is a obligatory Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to pay Zakatal Fitr, also called Fitrana or Sadaqat-Ul-Fitr,  before the Eid prayers, much better if it is paid a day or two earlier so that poor could also buy clothes or at least some sweets for their families.

In order to include the poor in the festivities of the day, a obligatory charitable donation known as Fitrana is given before the Eid prayers to the poor so that could also buy clothes for their children and cook special food for the day. Fitrana  or Fitra is also called Zakat-Ul-Fitr, also called Sadaqat-Ul-Fitr, is a charity that has to be paid for by every household. Unlike Zakat, where only the individuals who have savings above the nisaab amount are required to pay Zakat, Zakat-Ul-Fitr applies to every member of the household as well.

Read our previous posts to know more about Eid al Fitr:

• Eid ul Fitr عيد الفطر Mubarak / Eid greetings to everyone around the world 
• Zakatal Fitr: Why, when and to whom it is given 
• The minimum scale of Zakatul Fitr 
• Five Most Favoured Sunnah of the Prophet of Allah on Eid Day 

Soon after reaching home after Eid prayers, fathers and elder give "Eidi" to the children. Eidi is a usually paid in cash so that the children can celebrate the day by buying chocolates or other eatables, sometimes toys as well, to join in the celebrations of the day. Thereafter the sweetened dishes are served by the ladies of the house. The entire day is then spent in welcoming guests / friends and families who come to wish the Eid greetings. Children also get Eidi from the visiting guests and the day continues as a thankfulness for successfully braving the rigours of the fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is said to have encouraged this practice saying: “Give gifts to one another, you will love each other.”

Please watch an introductory video on Eid al Fitr:

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) accept our fasting during the month of Ramadan and help us not to forget our Muslim brethren with Zakatul Fitr so that they also join in the festivities of the Eid day.  

May Allah help us to understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah by assisting them in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

To know more about fasting and importance of month of Ramadan, please consult our reference page: Ramadan - A month of fasting and Blessings. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

May Allah show us the right path so that we do not go astray due to what man has interpreted verses of religious scriptures to suit their own religions and faith. Aameen.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Eid al Fitr عيد الفطر Mubarak / Eid greetings to everyone around the world

With the sighting of the new moon of the Islamic month Shawaal, the sacred month of Ramadan, the month of fasting (Saum) comes to an end and brings the happy festivities of Eid al Fitr  "  عيد الفطر  "- one of the two festivities of the Muslim world (the other being Eid al-Adha). This festive day is celebrated to hank Allah that He gave the believers the strength of fasting even though the temperatures were soaring and exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and yet helped them to be strong enough to fast.

Scroll down to watch a video on Eid Celebrations

The Eid day dawns with the special Eid prayer congregation at central places, rather than small masjid, so that Muslims en mass could join their brethren on this happy day. After the prayers are over, all greet each other by embracing and wishing eid greeting. Special dishes are prepared at homes by the ladies, specially sweet dishes. Sheer Khurma is one of the most favourite sweet dish of the day. Sheer means milk in Persian and khurma means dates; it is a delectable and nutritious mix of Seviyan (a form of vermicelli), dates and milk. This simple yet delicious dessert is versatile as it can be served hot or cold.

In order to include the poor in the festivities of the day, a obligatory charitable donation known as Fitrana is given before the Eid prayers to the poor so that could also buy clothes for their children and cook special food for the day. Fitrana  or Fitra is also called Zakat-Ul-Fitr, also called Sadaqat-Ul-Fitr, is a charity that has to be paid for by every household. Unlike Zakat, where only the individuals who have savings above the nisaab amount are required to pay Zakat, Zakat-Ul-Fitr applies to every member of the household as well.

Please read about zakat al Fitr:

Zakatal Fitr: Why, when and to whom it is given 

The minimum scale of Zakatul Fitr 

We at Islam: My Ultimate Decision wish to extend our hearties felicitations to all Muslims who are celebrating this festive day today, as moon is not sighted to many places in the world, and we also wish the remaining who will be celebrating the Eid ul Fitr tomorrow as in many parts of the world the Shawaal moon will be sighted today. This will be a special day for the newly reverts who will be celebrating their first Eid after their reversion to Islam for the first time. Our special felicitations to them all.

We also pray to Allah ease sufferings of Muslim brethren and sisters living miserably in war torn countries like Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen and Indian held Kashmir where Muslims are being suffocated not to perform their religious rituals. 

You may like to watch a small video on the festivities celebration of Eid ul Fitr:

| Photo |

Please refer to our exclusive reference page: Muslim Festivals to know more about Eid al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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