Today, as the sun sets, Muslims end their fasting and one of the most significant holidays, Eid al-Fitr, begins. The celebration begins immediately after the end of the holy month of Ramadan. This is an important date for Muslims all over the world. On the eve of such a significant date, we suggest you a kind of introduction to the holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
What is the date of Eid al-Fitr in 2021?
The holy month of Ramadan, one of the pillars of Islam, ends in 2021 after sunset on 12 May. May 13 marks the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. This is the first day of the new month of Shawaal, according to Muslim lunar calendar.
The history of the holiday
Eid al-Fitr is one of the most ancient Muslim holidays. It has been celebrated since the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). In the Arabic language it is called Eid al-Fitr, which means ‘the feast of the end of fasting’. In the Turkic languages it is named after the Persian word for ‘Ruza’ – ‘fasting’, and the Turkish word for ‘Bayram’ – ‘holiday’.
Eid al-Fitr feasts were served in the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, North African countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries.
Traditions of the holiday
An important component of the holiday is the payment of a special almsgiving, Zakat al-Fitr. This can be either food or money, which every Muslim gives to the sick, poor and the needy. A man is obliged to pay the obligatory alms for everybody who lives in his house. The amount of alms is based on the assessment of each family, but in 2021 it cannot be less than 100 rubles per person. This amount is calculated from the cost of dates and raisins. If a Muslim’s wife has her own property and is wealthy herself, she can pay alms for herself independently.
It is also customary among believers to congratulate each other with the words ‘Eid Mubarak!’, which means ‘I wish you a blessed feast!’
As evening falls, women are engaged in preparing traditional dishes of oriental cuisine, and children then treat their relatives. This is how goodies are exchanged.
The essence of Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated after the month of Ramadan. Every believer abstains from food, drink and intimacy during the holy fasting. In this way, Islam realizes for every Muslim the opportunity to manage their passions, atone their mistakes, improve their morals and leave behind some past addictions and bad habits.
How to congratulate?
Personal congratulations are best, followed by telephone greetings. But when seeing or calling is impossible, then virtual reality will come in handy, which becomes a noisy and colorful platform for exchanging congratulations over the holidays.
The most important thing in a holiday message is the recipient’s attitude. In turn, when receiving greetings, one should also express their gratitude towards the interlocutor.
Eid al-Fitr 2021: what one can do
There are many rules to follow when celebrating the holiday. It is known that preparations for the feast begin on the eve of the holiday. People clean their homes and yards, and prepare meals for the feast. Before the feast, Muslims perform full ablutions, put on their best clothes and go to a mosque for their festive prayers. After that believers visit their relatives. It is obligatory to give them a present. It can be a treat or a nice thing that will remind them of the person who gave it to them.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina
Photo: Creative Commons