Eid al-Fitr 2023 marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The festival, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is a time of celebration and thanksgiving for the blessings of Allah. Muslims around the world come together to share meals, exchange gifts, and perform prayers. Although the celebrations will look different due to COVID-19 precautions, the spirit of Eid al-Fitr remains strong. In this article, we explore the history and traditions of Eid al-Fitr and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world.
Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, which started on 2 April and ended on 1 May. This year, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Turkey, and Qatar announced they would begin Eid on Friday 21 April, while Iran and Morocco marked Eid on Saturday, resulting in one more day of fasting for Muslims in those countries. The date of Eid is determined by the sighting of the new moon. However, countries and groups of Muslims have different criteria for what constitutes sighting. [1]
Children were seen attending Eid prayers in Basra Grand Mosque in Iraq, African Muslims wore traditional clothing for Eid prayers at the Hagia Sofia mosque in Istanbul, while men hugged each other after the conclusion of Eid prayers at a mosque in Algiers. [1]
Worshippers prayed at a public Eid service in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, where 90% of the population is Muslim with Turkic ethnic backgrounds, while a woman led Eid prayers in between two children at the al-Seddik mosque in Cairo. [1]
Another tradition associated with Eid is the handing out of sweets. Saudi officials were seen handing out treats to workers and worshippers at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. In Russia, one of the country’s most senior Muslim leaders, Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, delivered the Eid sermon at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. Around 10% of Russia’s population is Muslim, some 14 million people. They are mostly either ethnic Tartars, people from the Caucasus region or migrants from former Soviet republics. [1]
Muslims gathered at a football stadium in Kuwait for Eid prayers, while Palestinians gathered at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem on 21 April, just after the break of dawn. In Kabul, Taliban fighters posed outside a mosque after security duty for Eid prayers. The armed religious movement took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. [1]
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Source: [1] Middle East Eye
