Editing Eid al-Fitr (section)

== General rituals ==
{{see also|Zakat al-Fitr}}
Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. The night on which the moon is sighted is celebrated as ''[[Chand Raat]]'' in countries like [[Bangladesh]]. If the moon is not observed immediately after the 29th day of the previous lunar month (either because clouds block its view or because the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the holiday is celebrated the following day.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adewunmi |first1=Bim |title=When is Eid 2014? It could be Monday or Tuesday, it might be Sunday |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/jul/25/when-is-eid-2014-ramadan-shawwal |website=The Guardian |date=25 July 2014 |access-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726004152/http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/jul/25/when-is-eid-2014-ramadan-shawwal |archive-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country.<ref name="aljazeera/June">{{cite web |title=Eid al-Fitr 2019: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/eid-al-fitr-2019-190603070303923.html |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=4 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603215352/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/eid-al-fitr-2019-190603070303923.html |archive-date=3 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is [[haram|forbidden]] to fast on the Day of Eid, and a specific prayer is nominated for this day.<ref name="Deborah">{{cite book |last1=Heiligman |first1=Deborah |title=Celebrate Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr with Praying, Fasting, and Charity |year=2009 |publisher=National Geographic Children's Books |isbn=978-0792259268 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=59YTCOcfU0MC&q=Eid+al-Fitr+prayer |access-date=31 October 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904055552/https://books.google.com/books?id=59YTCOcfU0MC&q=Eid+al-Fitr+prayer |url-status=live}}</ref> As an obligatory act of charity, money is paid to the poor and the needy ({{Transliteration|ar|[[zakat al-Fitr]]}}) before performing the 'Eid prayer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islamicfinder.org/articles/article.php?id=405&lang |title=Articles and FAQs about Islam, Muslims |website=Islamicfinder.org |access-date=11 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828030557/http://www.islamicfinder.org/articles/article.php?id=405&lang |archive-date=28 August 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Eid prayer ===
{{main|Eid prayers|Eidgah}}
[[File:Azeri carpet (Sirvan group).jpg|thumb|left|Many [[Muslim]]s often bring prayer rugs to the mosque on Eid al-Fitr.]]

The Eid prayer is performed by the congregation in an open area such as a field, community center, or mosque.<ref name="aljazeera/June"/> No [[Adhan|call to prayer]] is given for this Eid prayer, and it consists of only two [[rakaʿāt]], with a variable amount of {{Transliteration|ar|[[takbir]]s}} and other prayer elements depending on the [[branches of Islam|branch of Islam]] observed. The Eid prayer is followed by the [[khutbah]] and then a [[dua]] asking for God's forgiveness, mercy, peace and blessings for all living beings across the world. The sermon also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Eid, such as the {{Transliteration|ar|[[zakāt]]}}.<ref>Gaffney, Patrick D. "Khutba." ''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World''. p. 394.</ref> The sermon of Eid takes place after the Eid prayer, unlike [[Friday prayer]] which comes first before prayer. Some imams believe that listening to the sermon at Eid is optional.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eid Gebete |url=https://diegebetszeiten.de/eid-gebete/ |website=Diegebetszeiten.de |language=de-DE |date=7 January 2020 |access-date=25 April 2020 |archive-date=23 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623121927/https://diegebetszeiten.de/eid-gebete/ |url-status=live}}</ref> After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends, and acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations in homes, community centers, or rented halls.<ref name="aljazeera/June"/>

==== Sunni procedure ====
As ritual dictates, Sunnis praise God in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer:

<blockquote>{{Transliteration|ar|Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar. Lā ilāha illà l-Lāh.  Allāhu Akbar, Allahu akbar, wa-li-l-Lāh al-ḥamd}}</blockquote><!-- The following needs checking for accuracy - as every time I attempt to put it in a language tag the characters change - before being added back to the text with {{lang|ar| at the front and }} at the back:

(الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر الله أكبر، و لله الحمد.''

''الله أكبر كبيراً، و الحمد لله كثيراً، و سبحان الله بكرةً و أصيلاً.''

''لا إله إلا الله وحدهُ، صدق وعدهُ و نصر عبدهُ و أعز جندهُ و هزم الأحزاب وحدهُ.''

''لا إله إلا الله و لا نعبدُ إلا إياهُ، مُخلصين له الدين و لو كره الكافرون.''

''اللهم صلِ على سيدنا محمدٍ، و على آل سيدنا محمدٍ، و على أصحاب سيدنا محمدٍ، و على أنصار سيدنا محمدٍ، و على أزواج سيدنا محمدٍ، و على ذرية سيدنا محمدٍ، و سلم تسليماً كثيراً.)''.-->
Recitation ceases when they get to the place of Eid or once the Imam commences activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albalagh.net/general/shawwal.shtml |title=Shawwal: On Eid Night, Eid Day, and During the Month |author=Mufti Taqi Usmani |website=Albalagh.net |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816064614/http://albalagh.net/general/shawwal.shtml |archive-date=16 August 2013 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref>

The prayer starts by doing [[niyyah]] "intention" for the prayer before the takbir is said by the [[imam]]. Next, the takbir al-[[ihram]] is performed, by saying takbir three times, raising hands to the ears and dropping them each time, except for the last when the hands are folded. The Imam then reads [[al-Fatihah]], followed by another surah. The congregation performs [[ruku]] and [[sujud]]. This completes the first {{Transliteration|ar|rak'ah}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Perform Eid Prayers? |url=https://www.darul-arqam.org.sg/how-to-perform-eid-prayers/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |language=en-US |archive-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201110816/https://www.darul-arqam.org.sg/how-to-perform-eid-prayers/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The congregation rises and folds their hands for the second rak'ah, after which the imam recites al-Fatiha followed by another surah. After this, three takbirs are called out just before the ruku, each time raising hands to the ears and dropping them. For the fourth time, the congregation says Allahu Akbar and subsequently goes into the ruku. The rest of the prayer is completed regularly. This completes the Eid prayer. After the prayer, there is a [[khutbah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=نحوه خواندن نماز عید فطر در اهل سنت |url=https://www.mizanonline.com/fa/news/321584/نحوه-خواندن-نماز-عید-فطر-اهل-سنت |website=mizanonline |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925091651/http://www.mizanonline.com/fa/news/321584/نحوه-خواندن-نماز-عید-فطر-اهل-سنت |archive-date=25 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Shia procedure ====
The prayer starts with the {{Transliteration|ar|Niyyat}} followed by five {{Transliteration|ar|Takbirs}}. During every {{Transliteration|ar|Takbir}} of the first {{Transliteration|ar|rakat}}, a special {{Transliteration|ar|Dua}} is recited. Then, the Imam recites {{Transliteration|ar|Sūrat al-Fātiḥah}} and {{Transliteration|ar|Surat Al-'A`lá}} and the congregation performs {{Transliteration|ar|Ruku}} and {{Transliteration|ar|Sujud}} as in other prayers. In the second {{Transliteration|ar|Rakat}}, the same above steps (five {{Transliteration|ar|Takbeers, Sūrat al-Fātiḥah}} and {{Transliteration|ar|Surat Al-'A`lá, Ruku}} and {{Transliteration|ar|Sujud}}) are repeated. After the prayer, {{Transliteration|ar|Khutbah}} starts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eid al-Fitr prayer in Shia Islam |url=https://www.fardanews.com/بخش-جامعه-80/942394-نحوه-خواندن-نماز-عید-فطر-چگونه |newspaper=پایگاه خبری تحلیلی فردا &#124; Farda News |date=3 June 2019 |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616114440/https://www.fardanews.com/بخش-جامعه-80/942394-نحوه-خواندن-نماز-عید-فطر-چگونه |archive-date=16 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{clear}}

===Post-prayer celebration===
{{See also|Eid cuisine}}
During the Eid celebration, Muslims greet each other by saying {{Transliteration|ar|'Eid Mubarak'}}, which is Arabic for "Blessed Eid". As it comes after a month of fasting, sweet dishes and foods are often prepared and consumed during the celebration. Muslims typically decorate their homes, and are also encouraged to forgive each other and seek forgiveness. In countries with large Muslim populations, it is normally a public holiday with most schools and businesses closed for the day. Practices differ by country and region.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web |url=http://theconversation.com/what-is-eid-al-fitr-and-how-do-muslims-celebrate-it-6-questions-answered-118146 |title=What is Eid al-Fitr and how do Muslims celebrate it? 6 questions answered |first=Ken |last=Chitwood |website=The Conversation |date=3 June 2019 |access-date=12 May 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513082929/https://theconversation.com/what-is-eid-al-fitr-and-how-do-muslims-celebrate-it-6-questions-answered-118146 |url-status=live}}</ref>