Ramadan, a monthlong period of introspection for Muslims that involves fasting, communal prayer, and reading the Quran, ends this week. According to Islam, those who observe the holy month of Ramadan with faithful intention are forgiven by God for their past sins.
Nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide — including the roughly 1% of Floridians who are Muslim, according to a Pew Research study — are looking forward to the joyous festival of Eid al-Fitr at its end.
They just don’t yet know when that will be, exactly.
The end of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the waxing crescent moon. The exact date is still in the air.
Here’s what to know about the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2026? Has Saudi Arabia confirmed Eid al-Fitr?
Many Muslim communities around the world rely on Saudi Arabia and their trained moon spotters to confirm the date of the first day of the month of Shawwal, Eid al-Fitr, according to Middle East Eye.
The next waxing crescent moon is expected to appear in the Middle East on Thursday, March 19, according to Time and Date, with the first day of Eid likely falling on Friday, March 20. But the date won’t be confirmed until the actual sighting of the thin sliver of the waxing crescent moon and it could start the next day.
Eid al-Fitr comes at the start of the Islamic month of Shawwal, the tenth month of the lunar Islamic (Hijri) calendar.
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Sweets or Festival of Breaking the Fast, is the first of two celebratory days in the Islamic calendar. It is marked as one day but some Muslims will celebrate the festival for the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.
Eid al-Fitr is a time of renewal after Ramadan’s month of spiritual cleansing, self-restraint and contemplation and is a joyous time to spend with friends and family. After the morning Eid prayers, celebrations can include festivals, social gatherings, dressing in your best clothes, gift-giving, charitable donations and entertainment, according to whyisislam.org.
What does Eid mean?
Eid in Arabic means “festival” or “feast,” and Fitr means “breaking the fast.” In other words, Eid al-Fitr literally means “festival of breaking the fast.”
How do you pronounce Eid?
“Eid” can be said like the word “feed” without the “f.” But here’s a quick Arabic language lesson if you want to know how to really pronounce it.
“Eid” is “عيد” in Arabic and is pronounced as “‘ayid.” The first Arabic letter of the word, ‘ع’, is a consonant, which is pronounced using the back of your throat.
How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated?
Muslims will wake up early to prepare food and get ready to attend mandatory Eid prayers at local masjids.
Muslims follow the way of the Prophet Muhammad, known as “Sunnah” in Islam. On Eid, some specific Sunnahs include:
- Taking a bath or shower
- Wearing one’s best clothes and perfume
- Saying “Takbeer” or praising God on the way to Eid prayers
- Taking a different path home from attending Eid prayer
Eid traditions vary from country to country, but friends and families commonly gather and spend time together at each other’s homes, enjoying sweets and delicious food after Eid prayers in the morning, which can seem strange after a month of daytime fasting. Children will receive gifts and money, also known as “Eidi.”
Should I wish someone a Happy Eid?
Yes! While Ramadan is not a holiday, Eid al-Fitr is. You can definitely wish someone a happy festival with “Happy Eid!” or “Eid Saeed.”)
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islam. Muslims believe it was during this month Allah gave the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, to the Prophet Muhammad on a night known as “The Night of Power” and revealed to him that he was a prophet in charge of carrying Allah’s message. It is said that during Ramadan, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed.
During Ramadan, all able Muslims past the age of puberty are required to abstain from all food and drink, smoking, and any sexual activity from sunup to sundown. Muslims are also expected to refrain from immoral activities such as swearing, gossiping and backbiting, and to try to reduce negative emotions.
Fasting (or sawm) is one of the five pillars or duties of Islam and is believed to purify the soul, remove distractions and bring Muslims closer to God, help atone for past sins, and remind Muslims of what it’s like to be less fortunate to encourage empathy for others. It is a time for deep contemplation of one’s relationship with Allah and study of the Qur’an.
Muslims will otherwise carry on as usual throughout the month but are expected to devote more time to prayer, studying the Qur’an, helping the needy, and contemplating their relationships with God. Ramadan is also a time of community and charity toward others.
“While some non-Muslims assume Ramadan is a holiday of deprivation and difficulty, it is in fact welcomed warmly by the vast majority of Muslims,” wrote Laura El Alam for whyislam.org. “The month becomes a time of community bonding, increased worship, nearness to God, and hope for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Many times an iftar feels like a wholesome party with family, friends, and delicious foods from around the world.”
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
