Eid-ul-Fitr, "Eid-ul-fitr", Eid al-Fitr,
Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد
الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often
abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the
Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day (a
Muslim is not permitted to fast that day), but it is usually celebrated for 3
days. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means
"breaking the fast". The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29
or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The
first day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month Shawwal. This
is a day where Muslims around the world try to show a common goal of unity.
Eid al-Fitr has a particular salat (Islamic prayer)
consisting of two raka'ah (units) and generally offered in an open field or
large hall.[1] It may only be performed in congregation (Jama’at) and has an
additional extra six Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while saying
"Allahu Akbar" [God is Great]), three of them in the beginning of the
first raka'ah and three of them just before ruku' in the second raka'ah in the
Hanafi school.[2] This Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on which juristic
opinion is followed, Fard (obligatory), Mustahabb (strongly recommended, just
short of obligatory) or mandoob (preferable).
Muslims believe that they are commanded by God, as mentioned
in the Qur'an, to continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan[3] and pay
the Zakat and fitra before doing the Eid prayer.
