Many of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims will be spending Friday celebrating the completion of Ramadan, a month-long observance of fasting from dawn to sundown.
The celebration, Eid al-Fitr, falls on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, signifying the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan, which is the ninth lunar month of the year, is believed to be the month during which the Angel Gabriel first revealed himself and the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to The Independent.
Throughout the month, Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual relations during daylight hours. The purpose of the month is to remove distractions and improve discipline, spirituality and character.
According to The Independent, Eid al-Fitr is not a celebration of the end of fasting, but rather the gratitude for being strong enough to complete Ramadan.
It takes a long time to learn to avoid being distracted by hunger, Sumayya Usmani, a blogger, told The New York Times. But you do get used to it. And it makes Eid that much more festive.
Eid al-Fitr is often commemorated with a pre-dawn prayer, special congregational prayers and giving to charity, The Huffington Post reported.
We try to do things like this all year round, to give to charity, the needy and the poor, Dr. Muzaffar Shaikh, spokesman for the Islamic Society of Brevard mosque, told Florida Today. This is especially true during Ramadan. We do this also because there are a number of needy Muslims and because this is a part of our continuous work for the community at large."
Muslims celebrate the holiday with friends and family, feasting on sweets and delicacies in new clothes, exchanging gifts and money and decorating their homes.
On Eid, you are encouraged to eat all the things that are too rich, too sweet, too creamy for a normal day, Usmani told The New York Times. The whole day is dedicated to rejoicing in having food on the table."
The celebration, Eid al-Fitr, falls on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, signifying the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan, which is the ninth lunar month of the year, is believed to be the month during which the Angel Gabriel first revealed himself and the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to The Independent.
Throughout the month, Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual relations during daylight hours. The purpose of the month is to remove distractions and improve discipline, spirituality and character.
According to The Independent, Eid al-Fitr is not a celebration of the end of fasting, but rather the gratitude for being strong enough to complete Ramadan.
It takes a long time to learn to avoid being distracted by hunger, Sumayya Usmani, a blogger, told The New York Times. But you do get used to it. And it makes Eid that much more festive.
Eid al-Fitr is often commemorated with a pre-dawn prayer, special congregational prayers and giving to charity, The Huffington Post reported.
We try to do things like this all year round, to give to charity, the needy and the poor, Dr. Muzaffar Shaikh, spokesman for the Islamic Society of Brevard mosque, told Florida Today. This is especially true during Ramadan. We do this also because there are a number of needy Muslims and because this is a part of our continuous work for the community at large."
Muslims celebrate the holiday with friends and family, feasting on sweets and delicacies in new clothes, exchanging gifts and money and decorating their homes.
On Eid, you are encouraged to eat all the things that are too rich, too sweet, too creamy for a normal day, Usmani told The New York Times. The whole day is dedicated to rejoicing in having food on the table."