The end of Ramadan commences with the spotting of the new crescent moon and Eid Al Fitr begins. Immediately on the official sighting of the new moon, Muslims in Saudi and elsewhere will greet each with large smiles and “Eid Mubarak or Happy Eid.” One will receive text messages with the same greeting over the three days of Eid.
At the announcement of Eid, the monthly fasting of Ramadan is finished. For most in Saudi Arabia, Eid morning begins with entire families going to their local mosque for special Eid prayers. Naturally men and women are separated at the mosque. Both men and women are dressed in their special Eid clothes. This is when the Saudi men of all ages, even under one year, will wear their bischt when they go to the mosque and to visit others. Within my Saudi family, on return from Eid prayers, we would sit as a family and enjoy a large and traditional Saudi breakfast. After the meal was completed, gifts (monies) would be given to the children in the family. Everyone would be in their best clothes and we’d take pictures to capture the memory of the day.
Eid and the following two days are days of celebrations, gladness and visiting. Additionally, children are typically given gifts and candies and monies on Eid day. Saudi generosity is evident in many ways during Eid. Special meals are prepared and no one goes out empty headed. It is traditional to bring sweets, chocolates or flowers when visiting during Eid.
Most Saudi homes expect a flow of visitors through the Eid holiday. Invitations are not necessary. Most visitors will stay a short period as they will likely go on to other homes too.
On one hand many will be relieved that the days of fasting are over but at the same time as I start to readjust back to the “old routine” I would find myself missing the days of Ramadan and anticipation which leads up to Eid Al Fitr.
Until the cycle begins again, Muslims the world over continue to practice and live their faith and remember their beloved Prophet. PBUH.
For those readers who are Muslim, please share where you are from and how your family observes Eid Al Fitr.
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I’m not Muslim, but actually, last year on Eid I had a proposition to demonstrate against a horrible environmental nightmare that the city government was planning to perpetrate in the near future. For some reason when I showed up, no one was there (thankfully the nightmare did not come to pass anyway), but the idea stuck with me: to celebrate the end of the fast by finding some sort of community service activity that I can do on that day. Which reminds me, it’s getting to be time to start thinking about what that might be this year… And I think I also had a friend in for a meal on that day as well. It’s not easy to do anything more elaborate because I live in Poland – a country where I very rarely even see another hijabi on the street (though from what I understand, most Polish Muslim women do wear hijab), so I can bet that very few people are fasting…
“Special meals are prepared and no one goes out empty headed”.
Do you mean on other days, they go out empty headed? Or did you mean empty handed? Hehehe!
Assalamualaikum, here in Southeast Asia its basically the same with Eid prayers then off to the elders 1st before making the rounds. The happiest are the children whose pockets would be bulging by nightfall with the bounty collected! Its also a time for asking for forgiveness from kin and friends. Many also visit graves of their loved ones, cleaning the site and offering prayers. Here, theres a culture of ‘open house’ where ALL are invited to visit the palace, homes of dignitaries and no one is turned away. A list of these ‘open houses’ is usually published in the papers beforehand and a lot of the ‘guests’ include tourists who gets to try out the various dishes of our country. Its a very joyous and sharing moment for all.
I recall an newly arrived expat to bahrain experiencing his first Eid with many knocks on his door from the local children giving greetings and “expecting” treats in return….wrote a scathing letter to the local paper asking how the culture could raise their children to go door to door begging for money? Bahrainis should be ashamed etc etc
Of course he got slammed….Holloween was mentioned numerous times…it was a blatant show of how people travel to foreign countries knowing nothing of the culture…then getting self righteous about something they dont understand and falling over themselves to jump up on that high horse they love so well. LOL
Ignorance can be hilarious sometimes.
Enjoyed this post and picture!
sorry my question is off topic, can I ask how the first day of Ramazan is determined in saudi arabia? it is on base of scientific calculation or not ? is there a website to help about this issue?
thank you.
The first day of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the hilal (crescent).
Great day Eid el Fitr.
looking forward to yet another great day this year in 34 or days.
Thanks
[...] beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan as well as the end of Ramadan and beginning of Eid al-Fitr are all contingent on the visual sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia and many other places in the [...]
[...] are the final days of Ramadan 2010 with Eid Al Fitr soon approaching. During these final days I find myself thinking of all the Muslims in Makkah who [...]
can I ask 9 september is Eid in Saudi Arabia or 10 september?
mariam-Iran
I am a muslim from England, Eid day is celebrated with the prayers in the morning. After the prayers milk prepared with nuts, vermicelli and sugar is served to all members of the family. The meeting and greeting of families starts and so the ritual of feeding everybody, it is a very enjoyable day, though I would love to experience Ramadhan and Eid in an Islamic country such as Saudi Arabia.
It will all depend on the official sighting of the moon!
Most probably Eid will be on 9th Sept but then it all depends. Insha’allah.
However in Makkah, they have completed the Quran reading in the Tarweeh prayers, last night.
Best wishes to you, Carol and good health.
Eid for Saudi Arabia is most probably on Friday, September 10. It’s based on spotting the moon, and astronomically speaking it is not possible to see the moon today (Thursday) because it sets before sunset. Eid for other parts of the world can be on a different day (i.e spotting the moon before sunset on Thursday in South America is possible because the moon sets afew minutes after sunset.)
I hope for ya’all it’s thursday!!!
The hilal has not been sighted so Idd will be on Friday, insha’allah. Its good to have 30 days of Ramadan!
In our home it’s usually F and my son off to prayers ,while me and P cook
and then when they return the eating begins along with the visitors…this yr it’s F fasting all alone, i felt bad, don’t know why i never do.. si i fast with him, actually i drink tea and juice but try not to eat during the day, it’s ok, not a big deal.
but yes F gets a new shirt ( sent by his sis ) i don’t know if it’s the way it’s usually done, but for as long as we’ve been here she usually sends him a shirt and her selection is excellent, i get a fantastic shawl/dupatta — my collection thanks to her sis is amazing..
then we give gifts to those visiting, more food and desserts. that’s it.
This yr everyone will be home + ganesh puja starts on sat — i’m hoping eid will be friday , or else i’m done for, cooking for that adn puja and starting prayers and all…
anyway i have a full house so will be fun.
I enjoy hearing how folks spend their Eids.
Eid Mubarak to All!!!! I can just imagine the excitement and celebration in Saudi Arabia. I’ve spent Eid’s in Pakistan, India and Iraq and have to say, while all were special, the ones in Saudi Arabia have made the biggest impact on me. I know a large part of that came from marriage to a wonderful Saudi and being with him and his extended family on Eid.
a question arise for me , if spottingthe moon is measure for determining first day of month , how Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday 11th of August as first day of ramadan? if you see in the map in link below , you can see that moon cannot be sighted in 10 August in Saudi Arabia.
http://moonsighting.com/1431rmd.html
I am in wonder what is a exact base for determining first day of month for Saudi authorities?!!!
mariam-Iran
Mariam, First of all you have to know that a new lunar month starts with a new moon. For it to be considered a new month, however, the new moon has to set AFTER sunset. The moon of the new month can very well be born and can set after sunset too but can’t be seen from a scientific point of view. In other words, the phrase “can’t be seen” (which is used by the website you provided) does not mean in anyway that the new moon (of the new month) was not born and had not set after sunset.
Now here are some quick guidelines which I believe Saudi Arabia follows:
- New moon has to be born. (Check NASA’s website to know when moons are born for every month for the next 4000 years)
- New moon has to set AFTER sunset.
- If the new moon sets BEFORE sunset, then it is NOT possible to start a new month EVEN if we have people claiming they have seen it.
- If the new moon sets AFTER sunset and scientists say it can’t be seen, but some people claim they have seen it, then we CAN start a new month (like what happened in the beginning of Ramadan).
- If the new moon sets AFTER sunset but no one claims to have seen it, then the current month has to complete 30 days, and the new month starts after the 30thday of the current month.
Hope this is clear.
Nader
So is it Eid now?
I hope for Radha it is!
But isn’t Ganesh puja before Lakshmi puja? And I thought that was next week? But then the few hindu friends I have all live far away!
Nader, Thank you for explaining, I never really understood the fine points of sighting the new moon either.
It is really cute how you call it ”The new moon being born”!
I suddenly had an amusing image in my head: there would really be a new moon born every month…
The night sky would be cluttered with moons!
@Nader,
Thank you for the explanation of the sighting of the moon! Like Aafke, I like the term of the new moon being born.
I think Aafke should do a painting on the birth of the new moon! I know it would be tasteful and lovely.
I like that idea, would make a good title too; ”the Birth of the New Moon”…..
Does that mean there may be a new painting displayed on your art blog in the near future?????
Maybe…
I am working on a new series, and I have a wallpainting in the offing. Very busy!
Nader, Eid mobarak and thank for your explanation. I think you didnot undrestand my meaning.I know all you said about new moon and its laws.I am not a newly convert muslim:-)
- if your measure for determining new month is ONLY science then 11 August is first day and 9 september is Eid.
-if your measure is spotting month in any place on earth then 11 August is first day and 9 september is Eid.
-if your measure is spotting month exactly in your country then 12 August is first day and 10 september is Eid.
as you see there is big contradiction in announcing Ramadan in Saudi Arabia.
all data I refer to it is on base of US Naval website which give exact information with detailes for every corner of earth.on base of this data moon can be spotted in South America in 9 september exactly like first of Ramadan.( some of your information in your comment was wrong)
maybe Saudi Arabia use one law for first of month and another law for end of it. as I know this is WRONG.
however no matter which day is Eid , the only thing make me sad is that with so many information out there (and thank to US Naval it is free), still muslims in Islamic countries NEVER challenge their scholars or their goverments.( sure Iran is not exemption from this )
mariam-Iran
sorry I had one error on writing .below sentence is true.
moon can be spotted in 8 september in South America.
mariam-Iran
Mariam, Eid Mubarak to you too, and I think you didn’t read/understand my comment either.
The guidelines I put there are the ones that I believe Saudi Arabia follows, and those are NOT necessarily the RIGHT ones. However, Saudi Arabia feels that they have to do it this way in order to be in line with the religious teachings.
Also, you can easily see from the guidelines that Saudi Arabia is using a mixture of science and spotting of the moon for determining lunar months. In some cases scientific findings are prioritized over sighting of the moon (like what I mentioned in my third point). In other cases sighting of the moon has priority over scientific findings (like what I mentioned in my fourth and fifth points).
Now that I have clarified this, could you please tell me which info in my post that was wrong?
Nader,,
Nader, thank for your answer, sorry I was late for answering you, I am not online constantly specialy in last days.and apologize for not transfering my meaning properly. I didnot used proper words.
you said:” and astronomically speaking it is not possible to see the moon today (Thursday) because it sets before sunset”
http://moonsighting.com/1431shw.html
on base of this map it can be seen with aid from optical devices.our laws dont change scientific facts.:-)
maybe I didnot undrestand you.:-)
however forget it , the only thing that is important for me is challenging spirit between muslims.I think I am first person who question announcing Ramadan in Saudi Arabia at least in cyberspace.I hate blindly following by muslims.I happy to hear from you that those laws you explained are not necessarily the right ones.I dont think they follow those laws ” in order to be in line with the religious teachings” . social, political, economical reasons and even a good looking calendar(specialy for arabian countries) have more impact on first day or last day of Ramadan than science or moonsigthing.as you know most of Gulf countries and independent people in other countries( like my brother) follow Saudi Arabia.
in the end I thank you soooooo much for taking your time and for your kind answers.:-)
have a happy holiday inshaallah(honestly I am jealous of long holiday in Saudi Arabia)
mariam-Iran