What is Eid?A Day of Celebration
Muslims around the world celebrate two Eids a year: Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.
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Eidl Fitr Eid ul-Fitr or عيد الفطر is a celebration held by Muslims to mark the end of Ramadan and to thank Allah for the strength he gave them to get through this traditional period of fasting. EidEidEid ul-Fitr lasts three days, and it is sometimes called “Lesser EidEidEid” to contrast it with Aid ul-Adha, or “Greater EidEidEid,” another major holiday for Muslims. The holiday is a time for fellowship, socialization, and good wishes, and it is celebrated with a variety of local traditions all over the world. Visitors to nations with large Muslim populations are often caught up in the celebrations, with shouts of EidEidEid mubarak, meaning “blessed EidEidEid,” ringing in the streets. Ramadan is a very serious holiday for Muslims, taking place during the ninth month of the Islamic holidays. Celebrants fast during the day and pray frequently, meditating upon the nature of faith and Allah. It is traditional to make gifts of alms and food to the poor during Ramadan, and to abstain from sins. The holiday can be very challenging, as it requires self-sacrifice and personal discipline. Ramadan officially ends when the crescent moon of the 10th month in the Islamic calender is sighted, marking the start of EidEidEid ul-Fitr. In Arabic, EidEidEid means “festival,” and Fitr means “breaking the fast,” so EidEidEid ul-Fitr is literally a festival for breaking the fast. After the intense religious introspection and fasting of Ramadan, Muslims take EidEidEid as an opportunity to have fun, celebrate their faith, and enjoy the company of friends and family. The festival may also get quite chaotic, with fireworks, and distributions of presents to friends and neighbors, along with music and dancing. For EidEidEid ul-Fitr, families cleanse themselves in the morning, eat a small meal, and then attend prayer at a mosque. By tradition, celebrants offer alms to the mosque for distribution to the poor before the start of EidEidEid prayers; these alms are known as Zakat ul-Fitr. After prayer and a sermon, the festivities of EidEidEid ul-Fitr begin, with celebrants typically visiting each other in their finest clothes to exchange gifts and commemorate friendship. EidEidEid is also a traditional time for forgiveness and reconciliations. Since EidEidEid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, feasting is an important part of this Muslim holiday. There are no universally traditional EidEidEid foods, but the holiday typically includes rich foods which may not have been eaten during Ramadan, along with elaborate regional or family recipes. Invitations to parties and dinners are common during EidEidEid ul-Fitr, and people often take the day off from work to spend time celebrating.
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Eidl Adha The EidEidEid ul-Adha is one of two Islamic feasts celebrated each year. The word EidEidEid translates to "feast." The EidEidEid ul-Adha actually celebrates several religious themes and traditionally lasts for four days. Dates for celebrating the EidEidEid ul-Adha vary since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle. It can thus fall in either December or January. However, the Arabic calendar always marks the month of Dhul Hijja, or the tenth month of the year, as the month for this celebration. One important aspect of the EidEidEid ul-Adha is that it commemorates Abraham’s (Ibrahim) readiness to obey Allah and sacrifice his son. To some Islamic people, this son is always Ishmael. That comes as a surprise to Christians and Jews who traditionally think God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. In other Islamic sects, it is not specified which son Abraham was asked to sacrifice. The EidEidEid ul-Adha simply celebrates Abraham’s willingness to comply with the request of Allah to sacrifice a beloved son. At the last minute of this sacrifice, Allah spares Abraham and allows him to sacrifice a goat instead; some accounts say a lamb. The EidEidEid ul-Adha celebrates the faith and obedience of Abraham/Ibrahim, and the mercy that Allah can show. Animal sacrifice is an important part of the feast. This sacrifice of generally sheep or goats is shared with family, friends and the needy. The second important aspect of the EidEidEid ul-Adha is that it is the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca for the year. Those who have made the Hajj that year may celebrate the EidEidEid ul-Adha with particular joy. The Hajj is jihad, strife to become more obedient to Allah’s will. Thus to have completed a jihad right before the EidEidEid ul-Adha is cause for great happiness. EidEidEid ul-Adha also is an important time for family and friends. People dress in their best clothing and share meals. They also will visit family members and then friends. All are expected to attend the mosque for special prayers, and sometimes a brief talk from the Imam. The EidEidEid ul-Adha may be called by different names in different Islamic countries. It may be called Hari Raya in any country. In West Africa, a Muslim might call it Tobaski. A Moroccan might refer to it is EidEidEid el-Kbir. Indians, Pakistanis and those from Bangladesh call it Id ul-Zuha, and more commonly refer to it as Bakr-Id, or Goat EidEidEid. In all countries that celebrate it, it is a time of great joyfulness. It is also a chance to reflect on how one must do what Allah requests. To do so renders great spiritual rewards. Trusting in Allah, even when a request seems impossible, ultimately shows the Muslim how faith leads one down an unexpected path, and asserts the will of Allah as just and merciful. |
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