Eid al Fitr 2021

So what is Eid al Fitr? One of the two major festivals in Islam - the other being Eid al Adha which marks the Hajj pilgrimage and the sacrifice of Qurbani – Eid al Fitr is, for many, a time for parties, family get-togethers, luxurious meals and the giving of presents. However, it is much more than a celebration of material needs and ideals.

Eid al Fitr means ‘Festival (or celebration feast) of breaking the fast’, a descriptor that encompasses its principal objective - how the sacrifices made during the month of Ramadan can help us become better in our everyday lives through the remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

It is why we are obliged to perform certain acts before we start the social celebrations. There is the giving of Fitrana to help feed the poor so they can share in the joy of Eid; the reading of special Eid prayers in congregation; giving Eid greetings, and asking for the mercy and forgiveness of our Creator.

This is particularly pertinent with many communities across the world still suffering from the social, health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. As with Ramadan and Eid in 2020, this year’s festivities among many communities will be muted compared with previous years.

Lockdowns and restrictions have brought impositions ranging from limited contact with families to social distancing and fewer numbers allowed for public gatherings or events.

At the forefront of our Eid this year should be the giving of thanks to Allah swt for allowing us the opportunity to continue seeking His mercy, blessings and forgiveness, and our duas that He blesses and makes the Hereafter easy for those who are no longer with us to share our Eid joy.

When is Eid al Fitr?

Even within a country, Muslim communities can sometimes find themselves marking the start of Ramadan or/and Eid on separate days. This can be due to differences in religious guidance or leadership, or – as in the case of many ‘non-Muslim’ nations such as the UK – differences of opinion in whether the moon sighting should take place in that country or follow the lead of a Muslim-majority country.

For example, in the UK this year, the first full day of Ramadan for many was Tuesday 12 April, and Eid al Fitr is expected to be on either Wednesday or Thursday 12-13 May, depending on the sighting of the new moon, while for others the month of fasting started a day later and Eid might possibly be a day later as well.

How is Eid al Fitr Celebrated?

Perhaps more importantly, however, it is a time to remember those who are not as privileged or as fortunate and to make provisions so they can share in our joy and happiness. One of the greatest obligations on any Muslim is helping those in need and the giving of charity is not only a humanitarian gesture but one of the most important and significant acts of worship.

At the time of Eid al Fitr, this virtuous act is embodied in the giving of Fitrana (also known as Zakat ul Fitr or Sadaqah ul Fitr), an obligation on everyone – whether they are eligible to pay Zakat or not – who has enough food for themselves.

Giving Fitrana ensures our brothers and sisters in the Ummah who are mired in poverty and deprivation and struggle for food can share in the celebrations.

However, Fitrana MUST be given before Eid prayers. Any donation intended as Fitrana but given after the Eid prayers is regarded as Sadaqah.

Give your Fitrana here

Ibn Umar (RA) said: “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Him) instructed us to pay the Zakat ul Fitr before people move out for [Eid] prayer.” Ibn Umar used to pay those who collect it, and they used to pay it a day or two before the end of Ramadan. (Hadith Bukhari)

Making the Most of Eid al Fitr

A few of these include:

• Ghusl (major ablution) and wearing new clothing: There is a Hadith that states ‘Cleanliness is half the faith.’ No matter what our personal situation and restrictions, we should still make sure that we abide by this fundamental aspect of our faith by performing ghusl and wearing new, or our best, clothing before Eid prayer
• Eating before the Eid prayer: A Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) was to eat dates before he set off for the Eid prayer. Anas bin Malik narrated that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of Eid al Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet (PBUH) used to eat odd number of dates (Bukhari)
• Performing Eid salat (prayers) in congregation: As well as mosques, there is a tradition of performing congregational Eid prayers in open air locations. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, public health and safety restrictions may mean worshippers facing limitations e.g. in the UK social distancing in mosques has meant reduced capacity and may mean several congregational prayers at different times to meet demand. In those areas or countries where places of worship have been forced to close, scholars and religious leaders have agreed that individuals can read Eid salat at home, either on their own or in congregation if there are several family members in the household. Different routes: After Eid salat, it is Sunnah to go home by a different route. Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Prophet (PBUH) would return on the day of Eid by using a different route from which he came. (Hadith Bukhari)
• Giving Eid greetings: Saying Eid Mubarak, which translates to ‘Have a Blessed Eid’, to others. With travel restrictions and social distancing, it may not be possible to see family and friends in person but greetings can still be sent via a variety of means – telephone calls, texts, social media and messaging
• Refraining from excess: While we can all enjoy foods that were ‘off-limits’ throughout the days of Ramadan, we should still remember that the days of Eid ul Adha are a gift from Allah swt, a gift that we should accept with humbleness and thankfulness
• Giving charity: One of the greatest ways to earn the pleasure of Allah swt is to help those who are less fortunate, hence the importance of not only giving Fitrana but other forms of charity such as Zakat and Sadaqah.                                                                          Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would go out on the days of Eid and lead the prayer. When the Prophet (PBUH) finished the prayer and invoked peace, he would stand and turn to people while they were sitting in their places of prayer. If he needed to dispatch an expedition, he would mention it to the people. If he had another need, he would order them regarding it. The Prophet would say three times, “Give in charity.” The women would give the most of those who gave, then the Prophet (PBUH) would return. (Hadith Muslim)

Also, the end of Eid should not be regarded as an opportunity to return to ‘the bad old ways’ or to forget what we had been striving for with our sacrifices and worship during the month of Ramadan.

Instead, we should use it as a time to thank Allah swt for having given us the patience and endurance to fast during Ramadan; for the opportunity to attain taqwa (consciousness of Allah) during the blessed month, and to continue seeking His blessings and forgiveness during the rest of the year and the course of our lives.

From everyone at Islamic Help, may you and your family have a blessed Eid al Fitr.