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Eid al-Fitr

عيد الفطر

The festival closing Ramadan on 1 Shawwal — the Eid prayer, zakat al-fitr, feasts and visits; the Muslim world's widest celebration.

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Sacred timeWorship and the pillarsFood of Ramadan and the feasts

Reading levelRead it in the Kids' Wing

Eid al-Fitr is a joyful day after Ramadan, when we wear fresh clothes, visit family, and share happy greetings.

Eid al-Fitr is the blessed holiday celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, marking the completion of fasting during Ramadan. The day commences with giving Zakat al-Fitr to ensure joy for the poor, followed by the communal Eid prayer and praises of God, as families exchange sweets and warm wishes in a spirit of generosity.

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One of the two canonical festivals in Islam, falling on the first day of Shawwal to mark the conclusion of the obligatory fast of Ramadan. Instituted in the second year of the Hijra, its religious observances include the mandatory disbursement of Zakat al-Fitr prior to the festival prayer to support the indigent, congregational Eid prayers held in large outdoor prayer areas (musallas), and communal recitations of takbir. The festival integrates profound devotional gratitude for spiritual completion with vital communal renewal, family visitation, and civic solidarity.

Overview

'Eid is from 'awd, returning, for it recurs; the Muslims have two: the day of fitr, first of Shawwal, and the day of adha, the tenth of Dhu'l-Hijja — no other. 1

The Eid prayer

Jurists differ on its ruling: an emphatic sunna for the Malikis and Shafi'is; obligatory on the operative Hanafi view because of the Prophet ﷺ's unbroken performance and its congregational form; a communal obligation for the Hanbalis on "so pray to your Lord and sacrifice." 1

Takbir

Takbir on the two Eids is prescribed on the way to the prayer in homes, markets and roads until the prayer begins; the extra takbirs within it are sunna per the majority and obligatory per the Hanafis; takbir after prayers on the tashriq days is prescribed by agreement, recommended per the majority and obligatory per the Hanafis. 1 2

The day's practices

Keeping the two Eid nights alive in worship is recommended — "whoever keeps alive the night of fitr and of adha in hope, his heart shall not die on the day hearts die" — and the Eid bath, as the Prophet bathed on the two days. 2

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People and things also explored

Adhan (the call to prayer: its ruling, wording, conditions, recommended features and the muezzin)· The last ten nights of Ramadan· The first ten days of Dhu al-Hijja· Hilal (the crescent and the lunar month for the law)· Delaying the noon prayer to the cool (ibrad)· I'tikaf (retreat)· The ruling on one who abandons prayer· Ada' (performance of an obligation within its time)

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.11984
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.11985
  • Wikidata
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Eid al-Fitr”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/practice/eid-al-fitr/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.

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Practices, the Islamic year, festivals, food, dress and music by region. Related

Adhan (the call to prayer: its ruling, wording, conditions, recommended features and the muezzin)

In law, the adhan is announcing the time of an obligatory prayer in set, transmitted words. The jurists differ on its ruling, between a communal obligation and a strongly recommended practice, and on its wording, tarjia, tathwib, the conditions of order, continuity and raised voice, and the qualities of the muezzin: Islam, manhood, sanity and discernment.