In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

by Istafiah Is'harc
{Comments by IAA in curly brackets}

End of Ramadan

As the month draws to a close, there is once again great excitement. On the 29th evening {of the month of Ramadan} people go out to look for the new moon. If the Amir is not satisfied that it has been seen {this includes if the night is cloudy which prevents the moon from being seen} the fast must continue for one more day and end after 30 days have been completed. Once it is known that the fast must end, the Amir will announce this in the mosque. It is forbidden to fast on Eid-ul-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) or Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice - which is three days).

If someone has done the fast sincerely, he will usually feel great compassion for others and will have a strong desire to help the deprived or the disadvantaged. This is expressed through the Zakat al-Fitr, which is an amount of grain or food, which each person must give to someone who is needy. This is best done on the day of the Eid before the prayer of the Eid, so that the poor can celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. No one must be left out on this day. Nearly everyone in the Ummah must give 'Fitr' because it is obligatory for whoever has more food than their requirements for one day. Parents will give on behalf of their young children and whoever they are responsible for maintaining.

Eid-ul-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast)

Although they may have a feeling of gladness that they have completed the fast, Muslims also feel a little sad when Ramadan is over. There is something special about the fast - it is a time of barakah, of special grace and blessings. Many devoted Muslims feel inwardly cleansed through fasting and they also feel reborn. But now it is time to rejoice.

Some do not sleep the night the fast ends - the beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr.They sit and pray, waiting for the dawning of the new day and new month. The Musalla where the Eid prayer should properly be prayed is a piece of land outside the town or city where all the people of the town from all the different Mosques will gather. In the morning everyone goes to the musalla in their best clothes. If they can afford it they wear new clothes. This is a symbol of inner renewal after the fast. The children especially are beautifully dressed and everyone is in a festive mood.

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