The holy month of Ramadan has ended today with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, when Muslims around the world celebrate the revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. The Imam of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, Ildar-Khazrat Alyautdinov, told Vestnik Kavkaza about the significance of the festival for the faithful.
First of all, he reminded that during the holy month of Ramadan a Muslim's life is devoted to becoming a better person. "That's why Muslims are fasting physically and spiritually, abstaining not only from food and drink, but also from a lot of misconceptions that surround them in everyday life," the imam said.
"There is a saying that there are two joys in fasting: the first is breaking fast (iftar), the second is when a man stands before his creator. Eid al-Adha represents a great breaking fast," Ildar-Khazrat Alyautdinov said.
The Imam of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque said that Muslims have two great holidays - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. "The holiday begins at sunset of the last day of Ramadan, and the night preceding the ceremony iscalso considered to be sacred and fertile. The festive ceremony – when a lot of people, tens of thousands of people, gather in the mosques, listen to sermons, congratulate each other – is also a special feeling, a special experience. The next day, when people call on each other and visit each other, congratulate each other, give presents is also important," he explained.
Speaking about the Ramadan Tent at Poklonnaya Hill, Ildar-Khazrat Alyautdinov praised its staging this year. "Each day was unlike the previous one, there was a lot of useful information, great food. There were even Gypsy Muslims and Indian Muslims, a visitor from Turkey who came for the whole month, admitted that he got acquainted with such a large number of cultures," Alyautdinov said.
