How Muslims celebrate Eid ul Fitr?

For Muslims around the world, Eid is seen as the day of celebration- it is seen as the day that Muslims congregate and rejoice, thanking Allah (SWT) for all that He (SWT) has blessed them with and for all that they ought to be grateful for. In continuation with different trends in different Muslim communities, Eid is celebrated in a variety of ways and entails different practices that Muslims engage in. However, the basic format is almost the same for every Muslim irrespective of which part of the world he/she lives in. As long as these practices do not include additions in Islam and are forms of celebration within the confines of the Shariah, they are acceptable in Islam. 

While Eid-ul-Adha has its own specific celebratory practices, Eid-ul-Fitr also has specific celebratory practices that all Muslims enjoy. 

First, Muslims around the world offer the Eid prayer, which is a prayer that is offered only and specifically on Eid. This is often preceded by a breakfast with something sweet, which was the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Most Muslims, especially in the subcontinent, follow the Eid prayer with visits to and meets with close friends and relatives. Eid, as mentioned previously, is a way for Muslims to rejoice, and is used by many Muslims to thank Allah (SWT) for all His blessings. Eid-ul-Fitr, in particular, is an attempt of showing gratefulness for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon Muslims in the month of Ramadan and in general.

In most countries, on Eid-ul-Fitr elders give Eidhi to the young, again, as an expression of the love that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) has prescribed Muslims to give to children. For many young people, hence, Eid-ul-Fitr is always a day that they look forward to. Who doesn’t like some extra cash? 

In other countries, Eid-ul-Fitr is also used as a reminder that the Muslim Ummah is a singular unit, and that the more fortunate Muslims have a responsibility to aid the less fortunate, all in an attempt to attain the pleasure of the Almighty (SWT). It is hence not an uncommon sight to see people giving away hefty amounts of charity in the form of food, clothes, and money as an expression of gratitude to Allah (SWT) for all that He has blessed the fortunate with. 

Another common practice in Eid-ul-Fitr is families congregating in the cooking of delicious foods- every area has special dishes that are cooked specifically on Eid, often when entire families congregate to celebrate the special day together, amend broken relations, and thank Allah (SWT) for all that He bestows upon His creations. 

All in all, Eid-ul-Fitr is wholly a special day for Muslims, one that carries with it immense narratives of happiness, celebration, and acknowledgement of the Mercy of our Lord (SWT).