When / What is Eid Al-Fitr

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The celebration marking the end of Ramdhan (after 29 or 30 days of fasting) is a three-day period referred to as “Eid Al-Fitr” (عيد الفطر), which means the festival of breaking/ending the fast. Eid Al-Fitr is (the smaller) one of the two official Muslim holidays (the other is “Eid Al-Adha” عيد الاضحى), which is four days long and which overlaps with the annual time of pilgrimage). For more information about Islamic Dates and Holidays, please visit our page here.

Muslims may refer to Eid-ul Fitr (or Eid Al-Adha) simply as “Eid” or “The Eid”, and typically greet each other on Eid with the greeting “Eid Mubarak” ( عيد مبارك) which means “Blessed Eid”. Your response can be “To you and us”, or by reciprocating with “Eid Mubarak”.


About the Eid prayer
One the morning of the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, after sunrise but before the duhr prayer, Muslims conduct a congregational prayer, in mosques or Islamic community centers. The prayer is referred to as the “Eid prayer” (صلاة العيد). Muslims follow the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him (PBUH, SAW, صلى الله عليه وسلم) – in preparing for the prayer by showering and putting on new clothes, etc. (http://www.islam101.com/ramadan/eidulFitr.htm). The prayer is composed of two raka'at Hadith related by Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, #81), and performed with an additional six takbeerat (incantations - when the prayer leader says, “God is the greatest” which starts the prayer), plural of takbeer (تكبير), in the first raka’a(ركعة), and five additional takbeerat in the second raka’a (after one rises from the sitting position to stand for the second raka’a), and there is no special athan or iqama (إقامة) to the prayer.

The best way to learn how to perform the Eid prayer is to participate in one and follow the congregation. If you would like someone to attend the Eid prayer with you, please submit a request on the Buddy Page. The Eid prayer is followed by a short sermon (khutba خطبة) Hadith related by Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 15, #77). As with all sermons, it is prohibited to talk while the imam is delivering the sermon.

About the requirement to give to charity / zakat
Before the end of Ramdhan, (non-poor) Muslims are required to pay a special zakat/charity, called Zakat il-Fitr (زكاة الفطر) or Sadawat il-Fitr (Reference: Hadith related by Muslim, Book 5, #2149). The specific amount is what would roughly support a poor person for one day. Check with your local community to get the proper amount estimate. Zakat il-Fitr is obligatory (wajib) on every (non-poor) Muslim, male or female (Reference: Hadith related by Muslim, Book 5, #2149). The Eid prayer marks the deadline to pay Zakat il-Fitr, so it will have to be done before the prayer. (Reference: Hadith related by Muslim, Book 005, #2159 & #2160).


About other Eid activities
Following the Eid prayer, Muslims typically exchange visits, and give gifts to their children, spouses, and/or young siblings.

In the US, some mosques hold some feasts after the Eid prayer. Your community may have special celebration plans. For example, in Chicago, many people visit Devon avenue for shopping and feasts with family and friends. There will be Eid celebrations held at people’s homes, where people celebrate and eat. If you are a new Muslim and have not yet developed your Muslim social network, Eid can be a lonely time if you have nobody to celebrate it with. Reach out to us via the buddy page during Ramadhan if you would like to go with a “buddy” to an Eid celebration.


Fasting is prohibited on Eid Al-Fitr
Fasting on the first day of Eid is prohibited (haram حرام), so that all Muslims 'celebrate' the same day together. (Reference: Hadith related by Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, #211, #212, & #215; and Hadith related by Muslim, Book 6, #2533–2539)