Muslims in much of the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Worshippers gathered in mosques in Malaysia and Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim countries, to begin the celebrations on Friday.
Eidul fitri is celebrated on the first date of Shawwal, that is, the tenth month of the Hijra calendar. During the festival, Muslims exchange gifts, greeting their neighbours as a mark of solidarity and brotherhood.
Before the day of Eid, during the last few days of Ramadan, each Muslim family gives a determined amount as a donation to the poor. This donation is of actual food like rice, barley, rice, etc, to ensure that the needy can have a holiday meal and participate in the celebrations as well. This donation is known as sadaqah al-fitr (to mean charity of fast-breaking).
Unfortunately, the Eid festival comes at a time of unprecedented turmoil in the Muslim world, with sectarian conflicts in countries such as Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and governments battling Islamist extremists in Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Egypt.
Horseed Media
Millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr
Published: July 17, 2015
