Eid ul-Fitr - The Festival of the Breaking of the Fast

Eid ul-Fitr is one of the most poignant times in the Islamic calendar as it marks the festival of the breaking of the fast following the month of Ramadan.

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The Festival of the
Breaking of the Fast

Eid ul-Fitr is one of the most poignant times in the Islamic calendar as it marks the festival of the breaking of the fast following the month of Ramadan. After Muslims around the world finish observing the month-long sawm, friends and families traditionally come together to celebrate over a feast.

This celebration lasts for three days and is a national holiday in Muslim countries as per its importance in Islam. It is common for Muslim families living outside of Islamic countries to book annual leave so they can celebrate the festival with their loved ones.

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What is Eid and Why is it Celebrated?

Eid ul-Fitr is the first of two Eid's in the year, the second of which is Eid ul-Adha. The Eid that comes after Ramadan is regarded as the lesser of the two Eids, but still holds significant importance in Islam because of its affinity with Ramadan and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

It is believed that the Angel Jibril shared the word of Allah (SWT) with the Prophet (PBUH) on Laylat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power) in the last 10 days of Ramadan (widely believed to be the 27th night). Eid was originated by the Prophet (PBUH) and first initiated in Medina following the migration from Mecca.

The Eid meaning, translated from Arabic, is ‘feast’ or ‘festival’ – perfectly describing this tradition. The festival of the breaking of the fast is how Muslims celebrate observing 30 days of sawm, abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours, using this time for personal reflection, and to grow closer to Allah (SWT) through increased prayers and reciting the Holy Qur’an.

The End of the Fast

Eid ul-Fitr is the festival of the breaking of the fast, following the month of Ramadan, and as such, it is forbidden for any Muslim to fast during Eid. This means that any Muslim who has days of sawm to make up, either in the form of Fidya or Kaffarah, must wait until after the Eid celebrations have been completed.

What is the Traditional Eid Greeting?

The traditional greeting for Eid between Muslims (as well as for non-Muslims to followers of Islam) is ‘Eid Mubarak’. Its meaning is translated literally as ‘blessed celebration’ but it can also be interpreted as ‘happy Eid’ or ‘have a blessed holiday’.

Giving Gifts as Eid Charity

One of the main traditions of Eid is for children to receive gifts, however, not every child is fortunate enough to have a loved one from whom to receive a gift at Eid. Around the world there are millions of orphaned children living in desperate conditions. We believe that every child deserves to smile, especially at Eid, and a generous donation from our supporters can help a young boy or girl forget about their situation, even if just for a moment.

As well as donating gifts for children, a donation can be made on behalf of someone else as an Eid gift, ensuring that they receive the rewards and blessings that come with the act of charity. In many ways, this is the best gift that you can ever hope to give and to receive, the impact of which could be felt for years to come should it class as Sadaqah Jariyah.

Please consider giving your kind Eid charity donation to Children of Adam by heading to our donations page where you can choose from any of the appeals you wish to support, as well as making a general donation.