Eid-ul-Fitr in North America 2018

Muslims in Chicago, New York and across North America, along with many parts of the world, celebrate Eid ul-Fitr on Friday this year.

Muslims follow the lunar calendar which has a difference of 10-11 days with the Gregorian calendar. Oftens, the moon is not sighted at the expected time to start Ramadan or to celebrate Eid.

There are two schools of thought to resolve the issue. One group called ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) follows Saudi Arabia to declare Ramadan and Eid. The other group, called ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America) opts for sighting the moon locally and many times their declared Eid dates differ from that of ISNA.

Muslims observe another Eid, called Eid ul-Azha, and sometime Bakhri Eid. In Saudi Arabia and some other countries, Eid ul-Fitr is considered the lesser Eid and Eid ul-Azha the bigger or greater Eid.

Eid ul-Fitr has different regional names and is celebrated differently based on the prevailing cultures in various parts of the world. For example, in Turkey, it is called Bayram. In Nigeria, it is called “Small Sallah”. In Southeast Asia, that includea Indonesia , Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, it goes by Idul Fitri or Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Lebaran. It is called Idul Fitri or Hari Rayappines in Southern Thailand and Cambodia.In the Philippines, Eid ul-Fitr is known to Muslims as "Araw ng Lebaran" / "Araw ng Raya" or familiar to the Christian majority and other non-Muslims as "Wakás ng Ramadán" ("End of Ramadan"). The customs and rituals of Eid al-Fitr are quite similar across Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Southern Thailand and Cambodia.Burmese Muslims call the day Eid Nei’ (Nei’=day) or Eid Ka Lay (Ka Lay=small). 

In fact, Eid is an Arabic term meaning "festivity" or "celebration" while Fitr means "to break the fast". Ramaḍān is taken from the word Ramad which means something that is intensely or vehemently heated by the sun.

The financially capable head of the family, is required to pay Zakat al-Fitr, simply called Fitra. Fitra is basically a charityfor the poor and the needy. The amount is based on counting the heads of all the family members. Zakat al-Fitr must be paid any day during Ramadan until before the Eid prayer. The Arabic word Fitr means the same as Iftar which means breaking a fast, and it comes from the same root word as Futoor means breakfast. The Fitra per head varies from region to region of the world - Middle East, China. Russia, Europe, Africa, South East Asia or the Indian sub-continent. In Chicago and primarily in North America, the Fitra per head is held at $10 per person.

Eid- ul-Fitr is celebrated on the 1st of day of the Arabic month, Shawwal. In the previous month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world, observe fasting from dawn to dusk staying away from all kinds of foods and drinks, including water.

The day is spent with friends and family as they get together indulging in eating and handing out Eidi (money as gifts given to kids on the Eid occasion). In general, everyone in the family gets new clothes made for the special occasion to look his/her best. The happy festival revolves around the theme of togetherness. Each family visits other families in the neighborhood to embrace and exchange good wishes. Some people remember their lost ones and visit the graveyard to show their love, gratitude and respect to the deceased and do Kabar Ziarat or pray to Allah on their behalf for peace to their souls.