Ken Chitwood is a senior analysis fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and journalist-fellow at the Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Eid al-Fitr, one in every of Islam’s principal festivals, can be celebrated April 9, 2024, in response to the Fiqh Council of North America. At the center of June, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of world Islam, explains the two Islamic festivals.
1. What is Eid?
Eid actually means a “pageant” or “feast” in Arabic. There are two main eids in the Islamic calendar per 12 months – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the 12 months and Eid al-Adha later.
Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long pageant and is generally known as the “Lesser” or “Smaller Eid” when in comparison with Eid al-Adha, which is 4 days lengthy and is generally known as the “Greater Eid.”
Agoes Rudianto/Anadolu Agency by way of Getty Images
2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a 12 months?
The two Eids acknowledge, celebrate and recall two distinct occasions which are vital to the story of Islam.
Eid al-Fitr means “the feast of breaking the quick.” The quick, on this occasion, is Ramadan, which remembers the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to quick from dawn to sunset for a month.
3. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr options two to a few days of celebrations that embrace particular morning prayers. People greet one another with “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Eid” and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are ready at residence and presents are given to youngsters and to these in want. In addition, Muslims are inspired to forgive and search forgiveness. Practices differ from nation to nation.
In many nations with massive Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a nationwide holiday. Schools, places of work and companies are closed so household, pals and neighbors can take pleasure in the celebrations collectively. In the U.S. and the U.Okay., Muslims could request to have the break day from faculty or work to journey or celebrate with household and pals.
In nations like Egypt and Pakistan, Muslims enhance their properties with lanterns, twinkling lights or flowers. Special meals is ready and pals and household are invited over to celebrate.
RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP by way of Getty Images
In locations like Jordan, with its Muslim majority inhabitants, the days earlier than Eid al-Fitr can see a rush at native malls and particular “Ramadan markets” as folks put together to alternate presents on Eid al-Fitr.
In Turkey and in locations that have been as soon as a part of the Ottoman-Turkish empire equivalent to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, it is also called the, “Lesser Bayram” or “pageant” in Turkish.
4. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha?
The different pageant, Eid al-Adha, is the “feast of the sacrifice.” It comes at the finish of the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage by tens of millions of Muslims to the holy metropolis of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is compulsory as soon as in a lifetime, however just for these with means.
Eid al-Adha remembers the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a take a look at of religion. The story, as narrated in the Quran, describes Satan’s try and tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God’s command. Ibrahim, nonetheless, stays unmoved and informs Ismail, who is keen to be sacrificed.
But, simply as Ibrahim makes an attempt to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed rather than Ismail. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to recollect Ibrahim’s sacrifice and remind themselves of the must undergo the will of God.
5. When are they celebrated?
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the tenth month in the Islamic calendar.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of the remaining month in the Islamic calendar.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and dates are calculated primarily based on lunar phases. Since the Islamic calendar 12 months is shorter than the photo voltaic Gregorian calendar 12 months by 10 to 12 days, the dates for Ramadan and Eid on the Gregorian calendar can differ 12 months by 12 months.
6. What is the non secular which means of Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr, because it follows the fasting of Ramadan, is additionally seen as a non secular celebration of Allah’s provision of power and endurance.
Amid the reflection and rejoicing, Eid al-Fitr is a time for charity, generally known as Zakat al-Fitr. Eid is meant to be a time of pleasure and blessing for the complete Muslim neighborhood and a time for distributing one’s wealth.
Charity to the poor is a extremely emphasised worth in Islam. The Quran says,
“Believe in Allah and his messenger, and give charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For these of you who consider and give charity – for them is an amazing reward.”
This piece incorporates supplies from an article first printed on Aug. 28, 2017. The dates have been up to date. This article is republished from The Conversation below a Creative Commons license.
