10 Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About Eid al Fitr

Eid al Fitr, or Eid for short, is an Islamic religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The two-day celebration starts at sundown on the first day and ends with evening prayers on the second day. During this time, Muslims gather together to pray at mosques and feast on an elaborate meal known as Iftar which consists of dates, grilled meats and fish, and desserts such as baklava or rice pudding. However, there are plenty of other facts about Eid al Fitr that you might not know about!

1) Allah created Adha first

Allah sent down Ramadan on Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) in 610. It was five months after that when he sent down Adha. This meant it was around 625 years before Adha celebrations were first held to commemorate Ibrahim's obedience and devotion to Allah, his supreme Creator. It is for Allah alone that Muslims sacrifice an animal, as a symbol of Ibrahim's devotion to God. The date for Eid-ul-Adha also marks Hajj, or pilgrimage, which also occurred in 628AD during Prophet Muhammad's lifetime. In short – Eid-ul-Adha commemorates two major events from early Islam: a moment of religious devotion by Prophet Ibrahim and Hajj with Prophet Muhammad in attendance.

2) Muslims celebrate two Eids

Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Eid Miladun Nabi. Only one of these, Eid al-Fitr, is an official holiday. It occurs at a different time each year based on when Ramadan ends. During an Islamic calendar year, for example, Eids can occur any time between September (when Ramadan ends) and October (the start of Ramadan). In 2017, it will fall on May 27th (for those who use Hijri Calendar). Another feature of Eids that's less well known is that they're determined by different lengths of solar and lunar years. This means that although both Eids occur in June in some years, they might not do so in others.

3) Eid starts when the moon is sighted, not at a set time

The Qur'an emphasizes that Eid begins when the moon is sighted, not on a particular day or hour. Therefore, we do not know exactly when Ramadan will end; we only know it will end when someone sees a crescent moon. The first day of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan) may be more than 24 hours after you see the new moon, but that does not matter because Shawwal always begins when you see the Eid crescent.

4) Eid is a complete holiday with no work allowed

If you’re planning on traveling to a Muslim country during Ramadan, then make sure you are aware of when Eid is so that you know not to schedule any business meetings for those days. After a month of being stuck in an office, it is important for Muslims to be able to relax and celebrate at home with their families. The good news is that most people do get an extra day off from work on Eid. If yours doesn’t, take it anyway! Unless your boss plans on giving everyone 4 days off in a row (which might happen depending on what part of the world you live in), don’t plan any trips during business hours!

5) The word 'Eid' comes from the word for 'gathering'

'Eid' literally means 'gathering' in Arabic. It is called 'Fitr' as it marks that day when Muslims end their fast during Ramadan and celebrate. While Eid al-Fitr has become an official holiday, Saudi Arabia and Iran do not consider it a national holiday, unlike many other Muslim countries in which public sector employees receive paid time off for three days. The celebration lasts for three days in most Muslim countries, though some have expanded its celebration to last up to a week. People give charity on those days because they pray during Tarawih prayers for forgiveness, cleansing, and purification of their souls after breaking their fasts at Ramadan with no food or water from dawn to sunset for one month.

6) During the month of Ramadan, Muslims use less water

Research shows that during Ramadan, Muslims living in humid countries consume less water than they would normally. This is because they focus more on their spiritual rather than physical well-being. Another reason is due to being busy after the Tarawih prayer, so they drink little during that time and make up for it during iftar. Also, Muslims will drink garage (which is a sweetened drink), but they’ll use much less of it during Ramadan. The reason is that gargali has a lot of sugar in it, making people sick and fatigued easily if consumed often. In addition to all of these reasons, Muslims also fast from food and water from dawn until sunset throughout Ramadan, which may also have an effect on how much water is used throughout the day.

7) Mina near Mecca was the very first place Muhammad began publicly preaching Islam

Traditionally, Muslims will break their fast with a date and pray for forgiveness. This date is called Suhoor, and it's one of many rituals that make up Eid. However, there's a popular superstition that says everyone who attends an 'Eid prayer must have something new on their person to bring luck and ward off bad spirits. If your shoes are old or your cell phone is still in your purse, you might not be able to join in a prayer celebration after sundown. However, it doesn't mean you can't celebrate at all! Instead of finding something new to wear on 'Eid day, you could bring flowers or candy as part of a gift for someone special.

8) Zakat al-Fitr can be given to someone else if you can’t pay it yourself

If a person is ill or has suffered a misfortune, such as a house fire, they can give their Zakat al-Fitr to someone else who would be able to use it. This would apply even if that person is well off financially. The same goes for parents giving to their children and vice versa. The Prophet Muhammad also said: It is better for you to take half of your Sadqa on account of poor people than what remains with you (of your wealth). This is why if someone gives Zakat al-Fitr in its time period but cannot pay in full, he or she should give what he or she can and not worry about it being less than 1/40th.

9) There's no obligation to give Zakat al-Fitr if your financial situation allows it

It is customary for Muslims to do something different during 'Eid. For example, some wear new clothes or buy a new siwak on 'Eid. Those who do not have these things will make certain to either find them or purchase them before going to pray with their families. A small gift of money is also given out among family members and friends by those who can afford it, as an act of charity. These acts help add to the general jovial nature of 'Eid and people enjoy doing new things that they otherwise wouldn't do on a daily basis, such as purchasing a new outfit (perhaps for the first time in many years) or purchasing food for your family that you can’t normally afford.

10) Everyone should have something new on their person during an 'Eid prayer

According to Sahih Muslim, narrated by Aisha (R.A), The Prophet (PBUH) said: Whoever has an 'Eid or a wedding on that day should take Siwak with him to that prayer. It was said to her: O Messenger of Allah! Does a woman have to take Siwak in her 'Eid prayer? He replied: Yes. [Sahih Muslim Book#004, Hadith#2133] Some say Siwak here refers to a toothbrush made from an olive tree branch. Others say it means anything new, not necessarily specifically what we'd consider today as a toothbrush.