Her hands decorated in the Henna tattoo style, a young Indian Muslim girl in festive dress looks on as others offer prayer, on the occasion of the Eid-al-Fitr in Bangalore on 02 October 2008. Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the conclusion of month-long fasting. JAGADEESH NV/EPA/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: epaphotosthree708154
The lunar-based Islamic calendar consists of twelve annually-varying months; a new moon declaring the beginning of each. They call this Hilal meaning “crescent moon”, which they look to every year to determine when their celebrations and Holy days will take place. Ramadan is the ninth month as well as the holiest month of the year to Muslims. It is when the Qur’an was first revealed to Muhammad. You could equate it to the celebration of Lent in Christian religions, obviously with differences. What these observed-times do share are an increase in prayer, fasting (although, Muslims are much more hard-core about this as a whole), abstaining, and charity.
It is believed that fasting, prayer, etc. is good all year round however, when you go above and beyond the extra mile during the time of Ramadan, then your reward is much larger than in any other month. Fasting is obeyed from sunrise to sunset and is seen as helping to clear the mind of worldly matters and to focus on inner-self and self-discipline; Zakat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam is much sought after in deed. Not only does this act generate generosity and a charitable spirit, as well as a disconnect with materials, it fosters humility and purity. Christians call it “tithing“, which literally translates to “tenth”, requiring at the very least a tenth of a person’s income, whereas Zakat means “that which purifies”, or “alms” not limiting or demanding the amount given.
The most holy night of the year takes place during Ramadan: Laylat al-Qadr. It is the night the angel Gabriel or Jibril began to unfold the Qur’an to Muhammad. During the final days of Ramadan, prayer becomes even more fervent and visit the Mosque as often as they can, staying for as long as they can. Eid ul-Fitr marks the first day of the following month, Shawwal and the end of Ramadan; it literally means “festivity of breaking the fast”. And break it, they do in great taste. For awesome pictures of this beautiful month scroll down and then follow us back to Newscom for more!
The sun sets over a medieval mosque in Beirut’s rebuilt commercial centre November 14, 2001, two days before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to begin. Muslims celebrate Ramadan, the month during which the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed, by fasting from dusk to dawn. It officially begins when the first moon of the new month is sighted. JAMAL SAIDI/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: rtrphotos598534
Indonesian muslims perform an evening prayer called ‘tarawih’, the night before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, 21 August 2009. During month of Ramadan Muslims around the world refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country. MAST IRHAM/EPA/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: epaphotosthree897512
Iraqi family having breakfast under lantern lights after fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan in Baghdad, Monday 02 September 2006. Iraqis currently are marking the holy fasting month of Ramadan amid acute shortages of electricity in Baghdad. ALI ABBAS/EPA/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: epaphotosthree306703
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Palestinians sit and walk around a giant lantern set to mark the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Gaza City. aZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfour575809
A young Pakistani girl shows her hand, decorated with henna to celebrate the Muslim religious festival of Eid al-Fitr at a parlour shop in Karachi, 02 November 2005. Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. ASIF HASSAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: afplive895650
The crescent moon signifying the start of the Islamic holy month od Ramadan is seen in the sky above Karachi, 15 October 2004. Muslim fasting month of Ramadan will start in Pakistan on 16 October as the crescent moon has been sighted in the country, officials said. AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: afplive649129
A woman is seen with her hand painted with henna as Muslim flood victims prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr at their relief camp in Pakistan’s Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province September 9, 2010. Eid al-fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset. Pakistan, whose economy has been battered by the worst floods in its history, needs to abide by terms of an IMF bailout loan by enforcing fiscal austerity, the chances of which happening appear close to zero. DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: rtrlfour171652
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Palestinian children gather around a giant paper Ramadan lantern, traditionally used as decoration during the Muslim holy month in Gaza City. aZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfour557050
An Indonesian Muslim woman prays at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday 14 October 2004, a day before the fasting month of Ramadan starts. During the fasting month of Ramadan, which begins on 15 October, strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. WEDA/EPA/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: epaphotosthree102416
A Muslim girl prays at the MCC mosque during the last Friday of the Muslim’s holy fasting month of Ramadan in Silver Spring, Maryland on September 18, 2009. Muslim in US are preparing along with rest of the world to celebrate the Eid-al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of their holy fasting month of Ramadan. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: afplivethree018226
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Tags: eid ul-fitr, holy month, islam, muslim, ramadan, religion
Assalam Aliykum,
As per Makkah Calendar announcement, Eid Al Fitr 2012 should be celebrated on Sunday, 19th August 2012. Following is the detailed announcement about same.
Eid Al Fitr 2012 / Eid Ul Fitr 2012
Aïd El Fitr 2012
عيد الفطر 2012 – عيد الفطر 1433
- Mahek