What is Eid and why is it celebrated by Muslims who have finished a month of fasting

Young Workers October 1 2015

0A lot of people who do not celebrate Eid always ask the question as to why we celebrate Eid and want to know the background of Eid. I thought I would put together some information to give you some knowledge of the reasons.

There are two Eid’s that Muslims celebrate, today I will be writing about Eid ulFitr which is the Eid that Muslims celebrate after the month of Ramadhan. I will however put some information together about the Eid ul Adha closer to the time which is approximately two months after this Eid.

What does Eid Mean?

Eid
i?d/

Noun
A Muslim festival, in particular:
The feast marking the end of the fast of Ramadan.
Noun: Eid ul-Fitr

Origin
From Arabic ‘id ‘feast’, from Aramaic.

Also called the Sugar Feast, Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid

Why is it celebrated?

A tradition or saying of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him about Eid:

According to a hadith (saying or tradition) attributed to Anas ibn Malik, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, the two festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha were instituted by the Prophet after his journey from Mecca to Madina.

When the Prophet arrived in Madina, he found people celebrated two specific days in which they used to entertain themselves with recreation and merriment. He asked them about the nature of these festivities to which they replied that these days were occasions of fun and recreation. At this, the Prophet remarked that the Almighty has fixed two days [of festivity] instead of these for you which are better than these: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr is a way of expressing being happy after the completion of one of the five pillars of Islam i.e. fasting in the month of Ramadan as celebrating of Eid al-Adha which comes after the completion of pilgrimage; so the two Eid’s are for thanking Allah (God) for these blessings.

It is celebrated for three reasons, from my point of understanding:

  • Thanking God for guiding us and supporting us in completing fasting the month of Ramadan.
  • Gathering in the mosque or open area early in morning to pray and to ask God forgiveness and to congratulate each other.
  • The celebration should be proceeded by paying charity to the poor, called “Zakat ulFitr”

The way the day starts in accordance with the Sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad, many Muslims wake up early in the morning and pray the pre-dawn prayer. After brushing their teeth, taking a bath and wearing perfume, they have breakfast before heading off to perform special congregational prayers known as Salaat al-Eid. Many Muslims recite the takbir, a declaration of faith, on the way to the prayer ground and give special charitable contributions known as Zakat al-Fitr.

The festival begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky. Muslims in most countries rely on news of an official sighting, rather than looking at the sky themselves.

Eid al-Fitr is a day of great fun and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing sweet dishes, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes. A common greeting during this holiday is Eid Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!”

Article compiled by:

Taz Hussain
CWU Youth Committee Member
Birmingham, Black Country & Worcester Branch