[Islam&Muslim] Eid al-Fitr, Greeting, Lebanon and other countries’ Eid
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr is one of the two main Islamic holidays. It celebrates the end of Ramadan, a month when Muslims fast during the day. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for three days at the start of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the moon, Eid al-Fitr can happen at different times of the year.
Like the other important Islamic holiday, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr starts with a special prayer early in the morning. During Eid, people visit relatives and friends, give gifts, and wear new clothes. It is common for people to ask if you bought new clothes for Eid if you are traveling during this time. Clothing stores are usually very busy with many sales a few weeks before Eid.
Greeting for Eid
During Eid, people greet each other by saying "Eid Mubarak." This means "Blessed Eid" or "Happy Eid." You can say this to Muslim friends to wish them well.
Lebanon’s Eid
In Lebanon, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with prayers, visiting family and friends, new clothes, and sweet treats. However, a recent event where a coordinator from the Lebanese Forces was kidnapped and killed by Syrians in Byblos has increased tensions between Christians in Lebanon and Syrian refugees.
Other Countries’ Eid
In Istanbul, thousands of people gathered for Eid prayers at the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Some held Palestinian flags and chanted slogans to support people in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Palestine a "bleeding wound on humanity's conscience" and supported Gaza in his holiday message.
In Nairobi, Kenya, prayers at the Rahma Mosque focused on the war in Gaza.
In Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population, people gathered closely for communal prayers in mosques. The Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta was full of worshippers for the morning prayer.
In Pakistan, over 100,000 police and paramilitary forces were deployed to ensure safety in mosques and markets.
In Malaysia, Muslim Malaysians prayed in mosques, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for unity and reconciliation in his Eid message, saying people should not avoid groups for any reason.
Eid is not very well known in South Korea, but it is a big holiday in the Middle East, North Africa, and other countries with many Muslims. Despite some unrest in Lebanon this year, you can still see people wearing new clothes, meeting, and exchanging gifts. If you have Muslim friends, you can send them this message: Eid Mubarak!