ʿĪd al-Fiṭr
The month of Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fiṭr. Eid al-Fitr is also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking. It marks the end of Ramadan and the start of a feast that lasts up to three days in some countries. It is one of Islam’s two major festivals, with Eid al-Adhā being the other major festival. That is an important Islamic holiday that involves many Muslims waking up early and praying either at an outdoor prayer ground or a mosque. Many Muslims dress in their finest clothes and adorn their homes with lights and other decorations. Old wrongs are forgiven and money is given to the poor. Special foods are prepared and friends or relatives are invited to share the feast. Eid al-Fṭtr is a joyous occasion but its underlying purpose is to praise Allah for granting them the fortune for fasting a whole month.
The first appearance of the new moon of Shawwāl generates great excitement. As soon as the moon is sighted, everyone rushes to congratulate each other and begin celebrating. If the moon can't be seen because of clouds, which often happens in Western countries, people consult their local mosque or Islamic center, which receives information from Muslim countries by radio and telephone about where and when the moon is due to appear. Due to the distance between the various Muslim countries, however, the Eid al-Fiṭr does not always begin at the same time. The new moon may be sighted earlier or later in specific locations. Hence, Muslims in different communities, for example on the east and west coasts of the USA and Canada, may begin the Eid al-Fiṭr celebrations on different dates.
Some of the Recommended Acts at the First Night of Shawwāl
The first night of Shawwāl is one of the blessed nights. Many narrations have referred to the great merits and rewards of those who spend this night, as a whole, with acts of worship. Some of the devotional acts at this night are as follows:
- To make a major ablution (Ghusl) at sunset;
- To spend the whole night with offering prayers, supplicating, imploring for divine forgiveness, and staying at mosques;
- To say the following supplication after Maghrib and also after Ishā’ prayer:
اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، لا الهَ الَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ، وَ للَّهِ الْحَمْدُ، اللَّهُ اكْبَرُ عَلى ما هَدانا، وَلَهُ الشُّكْرُ عَلى ما أَوْلانا. “Allah is the Great. Allah is the Great. There is no Allah but Allah. And Allah is the Great. Allah is the Great. All praise be to Allah. Allah is the Great for He has shown us the right path. All thanks be to Him for that which He has conferred upon us.”
- To say a two-unit prayer in which in the first unit after reciting Surah al-Fātihah once one repeats Surah al-Tawhīd one thousand times and in the second unit, recites both of them only once. After accomplishment of the prayer, one is recommended to prostrate and recite اتوب الی الله “I repent and return back to Allah” one hundred times;
- To visit the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn or recite his Ziyārah from distance.
Some of the Recommended Acts at the First Day of Shawwāl (ʹĪd al-Fitr)
At the first day of Shawwāl is recommended:
- To make a major ablution (Ghusl);
- To repeat the supplicatory prayer that has been mentioned within the acts of the night of ʹĪd al-Fitr: "الله اکبر الله اکبر، لا اله الا الله ..."
- To put on the best clothes, wear perfumes, and offer the prayer of ʹĪd al-Fitr after paying the obligatory Zakāt al-Fitrah; (the method of reciting this prayer is mentioned in the book of supplication.)
- To eat something as a breaking the fast before the prayer of ʹĪd al-Fitr;
- To visit the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn or recite his Ziyārah from distance.
