Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast)
The Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan's fasting.
Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) is one of the two great Islamic holidays and marks the end of Ramadan's fasting. It is celebrated on the 1st of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "For the fasting person there are two joys: the joy of breaking the fast and the joy of meeting his Lord" (Sahih al-Bukhari).
The Eid prayer (Salat al-Eid) is a central part of the celebration. It is prayed in the morning after sunrise and consists of two rak'ah with extra takbirat (in the Hanafi school: 3 extra takbir in the first rak'ah and 3 in the second; in the Shafi'i school: 7 in the first and 5 in the second). The khutbah is delivered after the prayer (unlike the Friday prayer, where it is before).
Sunnah acts on Eid al-Fitr include: performing ghusl, wearing the best clothes, eating dates (an odd number) before the prayer, paying Zakat al-Fitr before the prayer, and taking different routes to and from the prayer ground. The Prophet said: "Eid al-Fitr is not for the one who wears new clothes, but for the one who is free from fear of the Day of Judgment" (Musnad Ahmad).
Related terms
Sujud al-Tilawah (Prostration of Recitation)
A prostration performed when reciting or hearing specific Quranic verses.
Muezzin (Caller to Prayer)
The person who calls to prayer by reciting the adhan.
Tawakkul (Trust in Allah)
Total trust and reliance on Allah in all of life's matters.
Du'a al-Qunut (The Qunut Supplication in Witr)
The special supplication recited during the last rak'ah of the Witr prayer.
Qiyam (Standing Position)
The standing position in prayer, during which the Quran is recited.
Minaret (Prayer Tower)
The mosque's tower, from which the adhan (call to prayer) is traditionally recited.