21/03/2026
๐๐ EID'L FITR AL-MUBARAK!
Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: ุนูุฏ ุงููุทุฑ, romanized: สฟฤชd al-Fiแนญr, lit. 'Festival of Breaking the Fast') is the first of the two main festivals in Islam, the other being Eid al-Adha. The holiday falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. One of the most important Islamic celebrations, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as it marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting (sawm) during Ramadan. The holiday is known under various other names in different languages and countries around the world.
Eid al-Fitr begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts, and sharing meals. It has a particular salah that consists of two rakats generally performed in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation (jamฤสฟat) and features six additional Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears whilst reciting the Takbir, saying "Allฤhu สพAkbar", meaning "God is the greatest"). In the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, there are three Takbirs at the start of the first rakat and three just before rukลซสฟ in the second rakat. Other Sunni schools usually have 12 Takbirs, similarly split in groups of seven and five. In Shia Islam, the salat has six Takbirs in the first rakat at the end of Tilawa, before rukลซสฟ, and five in the second. Depending on the juristic opinion of the locality, this salat is either farแธ (ูุฑุถ, obligatory) or mustaแธฅabb (strongly recommended). After the salat, Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in various ways with food being a central theme, which also gives the holiday the nickname "Sweet Eid" or "Sugar Feast".
In many parts of the world, Eid al-Fitr is also characterized by distinctive local customs that reflect regional cultures. Communities often mark the occasion with large family visits, public celebrations, and the sharing of traditional foods and sweets prepared specifically for the holiday. Markets and neighborhoods in several countries become especially lively as people buy new clothing, gifts, and festive meals, while charitable giving and community gatherings remain central elements of the celebration. Despite cultural differences, the festival commonly emphasizes social connection, generosity, and the strengthening of family and community ties.
According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad (swt) instituted the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. According to a certain hadith, these festivals were initiated in Medina after the migration of Muhammad from Mecca. Anas ibn Malik, a companion of Muhammad, narrated that when Muhammad arrived in Medina, he found people celebrating two specific days in which they entertained themselves with recreation. Muhammad then remarked that God had fixed two mandatory days of festivity: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. The night on which the moon is sighted is celebrated as Chand Raat in countries like Bangladesh. If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the holiday is celebrated the following day. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country. It is forbidden to fast on the Day of Eid, and a specific prayer is nominated for this day. As an obligatory act of charity, money is paid to the poor and the needy (zakat al-Fitr) before performing the 'Eid prayer.
EID PRAYER
The Eid prayer is performed by the congregation in an open area such as a field, community center, or mosque. No call to prayer is given for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only two rakaสฟฤt, with a variable amount of takbirs and other prayer elements depending on the branch of Islam observed. The Eid prayer is followed by the khutbah and then a dua asking for God's forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living beings across the world. The sermon also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Eid, such as the zakฤt. The sermon of Eid takes place after the Eid prayer, unlike Friday prayer which comes first before prayer. Some imams believe that listening to the sermon at Eid is optional. After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends, and acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations in homes, community centers, or rented halls.
As ritual dictates, Sunnis praise God in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer:
Allฤhu Akbar, Allฤhu Akbar, Allฤhu Akbar. Lฤ ilฤha illร l-Lฤh. Allฤhu Akbar, Allahu akbar, wa-li-l-Lฤh al-แธฅamd
Recitation ceases when they get to the place of Eid or once the Imam commences activities.
The prayer starts by doing niyyah "intention" for the prayer before the takbir is said by the imam. Next, the takbir al-ihram is performed, by saying takbir three times, raising hands to the ears and dropping them each time, except for the last when the hands are folded. The Imam then reads al-Fatihah, followed by another surah. The congregation performs ruku and sujud. This completes the first rak'ah.
The congregation rises and folds their hands for the second rak'ah, after which the imam recites al-Fatiha followed by another surah. After this, three takbirs are called out just before the ruku, each time raising hands to the ears and dropping them. For the fourth time, the congregation says Allahu Akbar and subsequently goes into the ruku. The rest of the prayer is completed regularly. This completes the Eid prayer. After the prayer, there is a khutbah.
During the Eid celebration, Muslims greet each other by saying 'Eid Mubarak', which is Arabic for "Blessed Eid". As it comes after a month of fasting, sweet dishes and foods are often prepared and consumed during the celebration. Muslims typically decorate their homes, and are also encouraged to forgive each other and seek forgiveness. In countries with large Muslim populations, it is normally a public holiday with most schools and businesses closed for the day. Practices differ by country and region.
EID IN THE PHILIPPINES
Among Muslim Filipinos in the Philippines, Eid al-Fitr is commonly known as Hariraya, Buka, Hariraya Buka, or Hariraya Buka Puasa. "Eid al-" is often replaced with Eid'l in the country's local English variant. It is also known as Wakas ng Ramadan (lit. "End of Ramadan"), Araw ng Raya ("Feast Day"), or Pagtatapos ng Pag-aayuno ("End of the Fast") in Filipino. It was proclaimed a legal holiday for Muslim Filipinos in 1977 by Presidential Decree No. 1083. In 2002, this was upgraded to a public national holiday by Republic Act No. 9177. It is also sometimes known by its Malay name "Hari Raya Puasa"; and by its Indonesian name "Lebaran".
Its beginning is decided by the sighting of the crescent moon (hilal), followed by morning prayers in mosques or public plazas. When this occurs can sometimes differ depending on the regional government. In some places it is based on the physical sighting of the hilal; while in others it is determined by the Regional Darul Ifta' of Bangsamoro (RDI-BARMM) or the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), especially during cloudy days.
The sighting of the hilal is traditionally marked by the beating of drums in some regions. In modern times, this has evolved into a noise barrage known as "Mobile Takbir", where celebrants, especially youths, rev their motorcycles or honk their horns while driving through the streets. Guns are also sometimes fired. These practices have been discouraged by the Grand M***i of Bangsamoro and local government officials as not being in accordance with Islamic teachings as well as being dangerous and causing accidents in the past.
Hariraya is characterized by the giving of gifts (known as Eid), food sharing (salu-salo), and visiting the elderly and the sick. Food, alms, and basic necessities are also donated to the poor, a practice known as Fitrana or Zakat al-Fitr. This is usually done a day before Eid al-Fitr. Various traditional sweet delicacies of the different Muslim Filipino ethnic groups are served for breakfast, including daral, dodol, browas, tinagtag, panyalam, jampok, and so on. Various activities also mark the celebrations, including dancing, boat races, horse races, and carabao fighting in cities and towns with significant Muslim populations. In Metro Manila, the celebrations are usually held at the Manila Golden Mosque and the Quirino Grandstand. The celebration lasts for three days.
Fi alnuwr, walwiaam, walhaqiqa
ูู ุงูููุฑ ูุงููุฆุงู
ูุงูุญูููุฉ
