Eid al-Fitr 2023 – live: Muslims share greetings as Ramadan ends
Muslims around the world will gather to celebrate the religious holiday this weekend
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Many Muslims across the world will mark the end of Ramadan today to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
It comes after Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the moon last night. Mosques all across the city will be hosting special Eid prayers throughout the day while some have organised larger prayer spaces outside.
Eid is one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims all over the globe.
Traditionally, Eid prayers begin at sunset on the night the crescent moon is first sighted but many mosques will offer to do Eid prayers the following morning. Once prayers are finished, Muslims will visit their relatives and friends to wish them a happy Eid and often exchange gifts or sweets.
Some events will also be held over the weekend to accommodate some Muslims who may choose to celebrate Eid on Saturday instead of today.
This means as many Muslims as possible will be able to spend the weekend visiting friends and family in order to wish them an Eid Mubarak and celebrate together.
Eid-Ul-Adha is also known as the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ and is typically celebrated two months after Eid-Al-Fitr. Eid-Ul-Adha marks the completion of Hajj, The Muslim Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and is a reminder to many Muslims of the willingness and sacrifice Prophet Abraham made.
Eid-Ul-Adha is considered as the ‘bigger’ Eid celebration, where many Muslims complete their ‘Hajj’ and sacrifice a sheep or goat. The meat is then shared equally between family, friends and those that are in need. Charity is a big part of the Muslim faith and one of the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’, so Eid is another reminder for Muslims around the world, to give even in moments of celebration.
Eid is also a celebration of life, devotion and understanding of the Muslim faith.
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 15:00
First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf has shared a message to mark Eid-Al-Fitr.
“Eid Mubarak to Muslims in Scotland, and across the world who are celebrating today”, Mr Yousaf tweeted on Friday morning.
“I am looking forward to time with family, friends, and after a month of fasting, looking forward to my mum’s home cooking!
“Whatever you are doing today, have a wonderful Eid.”
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 14:00
Muslims perform Eid-Al-Fitr prayers in Abu Sir village on April 21, 2023 in Giza, Egypt
(Fadel Dawod/Getty Images)
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on March 23, and is now coming to an end
(Fadel Dawod/Getty Images)
The holiest month in Islam, during which the faithful must refrain from drinking and eating from dawn to dusk, is followed by Eid al-Fitr; “festival of breaking the fast”
(Fadel Dawod/Getty Images)
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 13:00
Muslims exchange gifts as they gather on the first day of Eid al-Fitr to celebrate the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan outside the Dome of the Rock at the Aqsa mosques complex in the Old city of Jerusalem
(AFP via Getty Images)
Muslim worshippers enter the secured municipal stadium in Syria’s rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib to attend the morning prayers
(MOHAMMED AL-RIFAI/AFP via Getty Images)
Muslims attend the morning prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
(REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov)
A Muslim faithful displays her henna decoration before attending Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Masjid Salaam grounds in Nairobi, Kenya
(REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi)
Muslims gather to pray at the graves of loved ones after the morning prayer at a cemetery in Syria's rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib
(OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 12:00
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire from 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Friday after six days of fighting. Coinciding with the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid-Al-Fitr, the move was to allow residents to reunite with their families.
“The truce coincides with the blessed Eid-Al-Fitr...to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” the RSF said in a statement.
There was no immediate comment from the army and its chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who did not mention a ceasefire in a pre-recorded speech posted on the army’s Facebook page.
Khartoum, the capital, was rocked by bombing and shelling before the ceasefire announcement and witnesses heard gunfire as the ceasefire, and morning Eid prayers, were due to begin.
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 11:00
My colleague Faiza Saqib writes:
Everyone is welcome to celebrate! If you have Muslim friends or co-workers, be sure to just wish them an “Eid Mubarak” or “Happy Eid”.
You can get involved by dressing up or just acknowledging the celebration that many are partaking in around the globe.
Read more:
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 10:30
Eid-Al-Fitr, also known as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ is the first of two Eids in the Islamic calendar and is typically celebrated after the Muslim fasting month, known as Ramadan.
Many Muslims celebrate Eid by spending time with their loved ones, making unique dishes for this special day and connecting in prayer to commemorate and acknowledge the end of the fasting month. It’s a way of showing gratitude and remembering Ramadan and the charitable sacrifices many Muslims made during the fasting month.
This, as many Muslims believe, is in accordance with The Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 09:55
Eid-Al-Fitr, also known as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ is the first of two Eids in the Islamic calendar and is typically celebrated after the Muslim fasting month, known as Ramadan.
Many Muslims celebrate Eid by spending time with their loved ones, making unique dishes for this special day and connecting in prayer to commemorate and acknowledge the end of the fasting month. It’s a way of showing gratitude and remembering Ramadan and the charitable sacrifices many Muslims made during the fasting month.
This, as many Muslims believe, is in accordance with The Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Eid celebrations begin with special prayers at the mosque. Many Muslims dress in new garments, as it is believed that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) would wear his best cloak to commemorate this day.
Community members, family and friends also gather to share sweet treats, gifts and stories. It’s a festival that celebrates the goodness of life and the blessings that came with the Holy month of fasting.
Women welcome Eid by applying henna on their hands to mark the celebration, which has been a tradition for many centuries. Children are also commonly gifted with money or toys from elders.
Faiza Saqib reports:
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 09:30
The final night of Ramadan has passed and Eid-Al-Fitr is here, as Muslims prepare for celebrations around the globe.
Eid al-Fitr is calculated in accordance with the sighting of the new moon by the Saudi Arabia moon-sighting committee and is typically announced by local Mosques.
The crescent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Thursday 20 April, therefore Eid al-Fitr will now be marked and celebrated on Friday 21 April.
Each year the Islamic Lunar calendar is typically shorter than the Solar calendar by 10-12 days and usually Eid and Ramadan rotate and are celebrated in different seasons of the year.
However, the precise timings and dates change from country to country, depending on the geographical location.
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 08:54
Muslims in Egypt have released hundreds of balloons after completing their Eid al-Fitr prayers as they mark the beginning of their three day holiday.
Pictures from outside El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo shows the balloons floating up into the air, with some families attempting to re-catch them.
Not all Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr tomorrow, with some due to start their holiday on Saturday instead.
(REUTERS)
Eleanor Noyce21 April 2023 08:26
