Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr

The holy month of Ramadan has ended today with the Eid al-Fitr holiday [festival of breaking of the fast]. During the whole month millions of Muslims around the world refrained from eating and drinking before sunset. Today Muslims has been making festive prayers in the mosques since the early morning.

Eid al-Fitr is the second main holiday after Eid al-Adha. The day of Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal.

The tradition dates back to 624 AD, the times of Prophet Muhammad. On the eve of the festive prayer Muslims are recommended to wake up early, perform ablutions, dress in their best clothes and women put on jewelry. The holiday requires visiting cemeteries to recite Quran over the graves.

Muslims ask each other for forgiveness and read Quran verses. In addition, Muslims give mandatory charity - Zakat al-Fitr - to atone for errors and omissions made during Ramadan, as well as to help those in need. This charity remains obligatory until the beginning of `Eid Prayer.

According to First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Spiritual Administration of Muslims Rushan Abbyasov, over 250,000 Muslims took part in morning prayers in Moscow since 07:00am, including 120,000-130,000 Muslims in the Cathedral Mosque at the Prospekt Mira.

Muslims also gathered at the Moscow Memorial Mosque on Poklonnaya Gora, the Moscow Historical Mosque, the Mosque of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the Yardem mosque. The Moscow City Government has allocated three additional sites for prayers. As a whole, 39 locations in the city’s suburbs are available for worshipers.

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one or three days in various Muslim countries. It is officially announced as a non-working day in Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Crimea, Adygeya, Tatarstan and Bashkiria.  Dagestan is celebrating on June 14-17, Chechnya - on June 15-18. Russia is home to some 20 million Muslims and over 7000 mosques.

Azerbaijan has officially celebrated holy Ramadan holiday since 1993. This year the holiday is celebrated on June 15-16.

Vestnik Kavkaza congratulates Muslims on this great and joyful holiday.