To celebrate the completion of the fast, there will be festive events lasting up to three days, where the faithful will be able to gather, eat and exchange gifts. This year Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on Monday 2 May (a holiday in the UK), after watching the crescent at the weekend. See how to greet someone attending Eid and everything you need to know about the festival.
How to wish someone “Happy Eid”
If you want to wish someone “Happy Eid” this year, the traditional way would be to greet him with “Eid Mubarak”. This is the Arabic phrase used by Muslims during the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha celebrations that follow later in the year. The Arabic word “mubarak” translates as “blessed”, while “Eid” means celebration, festival or celebration, so “Eid Mubarak” can literally mean “blessed celebration” or “blessed celebration”, although it is widely interpreted as simple. wish someone a “good Eid” While you can specify “Eid al-Fitr Mubarak” or “Eid al-Adha Mubarak” to define between the two festivals, simply saying “Eid Mubarak” is okay. People buy balloons as they celebrate Eid in London in 2016 (Photo: Getty Images) In exactly the same way, Muslims will often wish their fellow observers “Ramadan Mubarak” at the beginning of the holy month and throughout the fasting period. “Ramadan Kareem” is used less frequently, but translates as “Generous Ramadan” – while the phrase can be used as a greeting similar to “Ramadan Mubarak”, it can also describe Ramadan when referring to it in a broader context. There is some debate as to whether the use of “Ramadan Kareem” is appropriate, as the expectation of generosity can be seen as contrary to the principles of fasting and prayer that are essential to the observance of the holy month. However, others argue that greeting may refer to the generosity of deeds towards others. Khaled Boudemagh, described by Gulf News as a Dubai-based linguist, said: “Ramadan is a month of generosity, so wish Karim.” Both “Mubarak” and “Kareem” also have names in Arabic, which have the same meanings as those given in Eid and Ramadan wishes.
More about Ramadan
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr’s name comes from an Arabic term that translates to “fasting” and, although it is not usually an official holiday in the UK (unless, as it is this year), it is for many Muslim countries. It is traditional for Muslims to gather in a park to celebrate their fast, with large-scale events and festive food (especially sweet treats), prayers and benches. After Eid, some Muslims decide to fast for the next six days. This stems from the Islamic belief that a good deed in Islam is rewarded 10 times, so fasting for 30 days during Ramadan and six days during Shawwal creates a good will for a year. Eid al-Fitr traditionally begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal, the tenth of the Islamic calendar Hijri. There is some debate as to whether the idea of a lunar eclipse should refer to you who naturally watch the moon in your area, something that could be hindered by factors such as the weather, or whether you should postpone viewing in Saudi Arabia or in other areas.
