Celebrating Eid al Fitr 2012

The Eid al Fitr 2012

The Islamic religion means penitence, and the adepts of this religion must take it as a way of life, respecting the 5 pillars of Islam – Shahada, Salah, Ramadan and Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca that must be made by every Muslim at least once in a lifetime), and Zakat (the annual value that every Muslim must give to the ones in need).

The Connection of Eid al Fitr with Ramadan

• After sundown, after the Maghrib prayer, the Muslims can eat the meal called Iftar, with the family and friends. Today, Iftar is a rich meal, with shisha and coffee, but in the past, this meal was composed of a few fruits and water. The people that have money and the mosques offer Iftar tables for the people in need.
• Those are the usual habits of the Ramadan. In some countries, some prisoners are allowed to leave the jail for this table. Before the sunrise, another meal is required, and this is called Suhoor, being consistent enough to produce the energy needed until the evening.
• In the majority of Islamic countries, the restaurants and coffee shops are closed for the whole duration of the day, having a special program during the Ramadan. The children are not obliged to keep the Ramadan until they are 7 years old.
• The last 10 days of the Ramadan have a special signification, as one of them, the Laylat Al Qadr, is the night in which the first Coran lines were revealed to the prophet Mohammed by the angel Jibareel. As it is not known which one of those days is the actual day, the Muslims prefer to celebrate all of them with prayers.

 

The Ramadan closes with Eid al Fitr , one of the most important Islamic celebrations. It is celebrated for the first three days of the Shawwal month, symbolizing the purification after the Ramadan. For the first day of Eid, the Muslims wake up before the sunrise for the Fajr prayer, and then for the breakfast, and then they participate to the prayer. Then, they have to visit their relatives, and they need to organize parties with the best foods that they can cook, with sweets, presents, but most importantly, they need to offer something for the people in need. Everybody wears the best clothes, and the women ornate their bodies with Henna tattoos, and they wear the best jewelries. People greet one another with the following expressions:

• Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid)
• Eid SA‘id (Happy Eid).

Eid al Fitr for Tourists

As a tourist, you won’t feel sorry for visiting a Muslim country during this holiday. You will have the possibility to attend the dance nights hosted here, but also the special events. The meal of Eid al Fitr is rich, filled with traditional Muslim foods, and the sweets are the best in the world. As for the hospitality of people, no matter what Islamic country you would choose, you can be sure that you will benefit of the whole attention of the locals, and that you will be treated like a king.