Eid al-Fitr

Eid Al-Fitr is a holiday for Muslims, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and all Muslims in all parts of the world await it with joy and many preparations.

The reason for calling it Eid al-Fitr

The word Eid is taken from (return), which means that it returns every year, while the word Al-Fitr refers to the fact that Muslims break their fast on this day after fasting the entire month of Ramadan, and also the word Eid refers to gathering.

Information about Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr, according to the Hijri calendar, is on the first day of the month of Shawwal, it begins immediately after the Maghrib prayer of the last day of the holy month of Ramadan, and ends with the Maghrib prayer of the next day, during which Muslims in all parts of the world break their fast and it is not permissible to fast during it.

The manifestations of Eid al-Fitr begin with the Eid prayer, which Muslims go to perform in large gatherings, and after its completion, visits and compliments begin, as Eid is not only an occasion for people to be happy, but it is also for drawing closer to God through prayer and maintaining ties of kinship.

Preparations for Eid al-Fitr

Muslims begin to prepare for Eid al-Fitr a long time before its due date, by buying new clothes, cleaning and arranging houses, and there are those who do some renovations inside their house as a manifestation of happiness and joy, in addition to preparing or buying sweets such as Kahk, biscuits and various other types, and buying different types of chocolate. These customs are common in all Arab countries, and the Gulf countries are famous for preparing what is known as Arabic coffee with dates next to it, in addition to fumigating homes with the scents of musk and oud.

Sunnahs and Eid prayers

With the end of the last Maghrib in the holy month of Ramadan, the takbeers begin to spread in the mosques, and it is desirable to repeat them anywhere, as stated in Surah Al-Baqarah verse (185) “to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful”, the takbeer continues until the imam begins to pray, and the takbeer is as follows: “Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no god but Allah. And Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise. And Glory to Allah eventide and in the morning”. It is also desirable to wash, purify and perfume before going out to pray or even before performing it at home, and breaking the fast before going out to pray is Sunnah, meaning that it is desirable, as the Prophet Muhammad, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, used to break the fast with dates, then the Muslim would go out to perform the prayer, which is only two rak’ahs, and it is also Sunnah to show joy and pleasure in Eid, and draw closer to God by paying zakat al-Fitr.

The Eid Al-Fitr prayer begins with seven takbeers, including the first takbeer – takbeerat-ul-ihram, the takbeers are followed by reciting Surah Al Fatihah and another surah, preferably Surah Al-A’la, then bowing down and saying (Glorious is my Lord the most great) three times, standing again and saying (Allah hears those who praise Him, Our Lord, all praise is for you), then prostrating after that and saying (Glorious is my Lord, the most High) three times, sitting down and then repeating the prostration again, and with this the first rak’ah ends, so that the second rak’ah begins with standing up and saying the takbeer of standing up and repeating 5 other takbeers so that their total is 6 takbeers, and reciting Surah Al Fatihah, followed by any surah, but it is preferable to recite Surah “Al-Ghashiyah”, then bowing with saying (Glorious is my Lord the most great) three times, and repeating the rest of the steps as the previous rak’ah, but this second rak’ah ends with the tashahhud, “All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory”, then salutations to the right and to the left to end the Eid prayer.