About Eid

By Afshand Ahmed, Assistant Litigation Executive

• Eid is celebrated by approximately 1.8 billion Muslims across the globe.
• There are two Eid celebrations at different times of the year. The first is Eid-Ul-Fitr which is celebrated after the completion of the holy month of Ramadhan. The Second is Eid-Ul-Adha which is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah.
• Muslims celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr after the completion of the month of Ramadhan and believe that the day is reward from God for fasting the month of Ramadhan. Fasting on Eid day is not permitted as the day is a gift from God and a day for enjoyment and celebration. In 2021, Eid-Ul-Fitr is scheduled to take place on either 12th or 13th May 2021.
• Muslims around the world enjoy the day of Eid-Ul-Fitr with their families and friends. The day typically involves a morning prayer at the mosque followed by a breakfast feast! It is common to wear new garments and fragrances on Eid and to visit the homes of families and friends to celebrate the occasion with them. It is also customary to reward children with money for keeping fasts and adhering to the month of Ramadhan. In all, the day of Eid-Ul-Fitr is a day which consists of a very full stomach!
• Eid-Ul-Adha is celebrated by Muslims to mark the completion of the Hajj Pilgrimage. This is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah. The celebration of Eid-Ul-Adha is to commemorate the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim towards God and his readiness to sacrifice something very close to him for the sake of God. The act was a test from God delivered to Prophet Ibrahim in multiple dreams.
  It was also a test to determine the willingness and commitment to obey his lord’s commands. The Eid-Ul-Adha celebration consists of similar actions which are celebrated in Eid-Ul-Fitr, such as morning prayer, and spending the day with family and lots of food!
• Eid usually consists of a three-day celebration, as the first day is typically spent with immediate family and the second and third days with extended family and friends.
• The typical greeting on Eid is ‘Eid Mubarak’, which means happy Eid or Blessed Eid.
• Zakat al-Fitr is a form of donation which Muslims pay before the day of Eid. This teaches Muslims to remember those who are less fortunate and to cleanse the soul of sins committed during the month of Ramadhan.
• Hillary Clinton hosted the first Eid Ul-Fitr celebration at the White House in 1996. This has been celebrated every year since and attracts many famous politicians, leaders and students.