Eid al-Fitr (; , ) is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam (the other being Eid al-Adha). While the Qur'an does not mention the celebration of Eid, the religious holiday of Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Some Muslims, however, do not view it as a sacred holiday. Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar; this does not always fall on the same Gregorian day, as the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on when the new moon is sighted by local religious authorities. The holiday is known under various other names in different languages and countries around the world. The day is also called Lesser Eid, or simply Eid.
Eid al-Fitr has a particular (Islamic prayer) that consists of two (units) generally performed in an open field or large hall. It may only be performed in congregation () and features seven additional (raising of the hands to the ears while saying "Allāhu ʾAkbar", meaning "God is the greatest") in the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam: three at the start of the first and three just before in the second . Other Sunni schools usually have 12 , similarly split in groups of seven and five. In Shia Islam, the has six in the first at the end of , before , and five in the second. Depending on the juristic opinion of the locality, this is either (, obligatory), (strongly recommended) or (, preferable). After the , Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in various ways with food ("Eid cuisine") being a central theme, which also gives the holiday the nickname "Sweet Eid" or "Sugar Feast".
History
According to Muslim tradition Eid al-Fitr was originated by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to certain traditions, these festivals were initiated in Medina after the migration of Muhammad from Mecca. Anas, a well-known companion of the Islamic prophet, narrated that, when Muhammad arrived in Medina, he found people celebrating two specific days in which they entertained themselves with recreation and merriment. At this, Muhammad remarked that God had fixed two days of festivity: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
General rituals
Traditionally, 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. 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 () before performing the 'Eid prayer.
Eid prayer and
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 units of prayer, with a variable amount of and other prayer elements depending on the branch of Islam observed. The Eid prayer is followed by the sermon and then a supplication 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 . 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.
Sunni procedure
As ritual dictates, Sunnis praise God in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer:
Recitation ceases when they get to the place of Eid or once the Imam commences activities.
The prayer starts by doing for the prayer, before the is said by the Imam and his followers. Next, the is performed, by saying 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 the , followed by another . The congregation performs and as in other prayers. This completes the first .