Zakat Al Fitr / Fitrana

Eid ul Fitr, also written as Eid al Fitr literally translates to the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” and is the celebratory holiday that indicates the end of the month-long Ramadan fast.

The holiday of Eid is celebrated because the prophet Muhammed (PBUH) gave the two holidays of Eid great importance in the Islamic Calendar and said that Allah (SWT) has fixed these two occasions for joy and festivities.

Eid ul Fitr is traditionally celebrated over one to three days and includes families, friends and communities coming together and exchanging delicious meals, sweets and giving gifts to children. There is plenty of celebration involved, although prayers and charity are still expected and a special Eid prayer must be performed, usually in a congregation, before celebrations can commence.

On the morning of Eid, families get dressed up in their best or nicest clothes for the holiday, some decorate their homes and almost everyone visits friends and loved ones. All able-bodied Muslims give their Zakat ul Fitr to help feed an impoverished person before heading to the mosque or chosen open space to perform Eid prayers. As it is forbidden to fast on this day, great meals and delicacies are prepared for everyone to enjoy.

There is a phrase that Muslims use to wish each other a happy Eid which is ‘Eid Mubarak’, and it means to have a blessed Eid.

The Islamic calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar as it follows the moon rather than the sun. This means that there are no fixed Gregorian dates for celebrations and holidays within the Islamic calendar and holidays will change in the Gregorian calendar by approximately ten days each year. Officially, Eid begins after Ramadan and marks the first day of the next month, known as Shawwal.

Officially, Eid ul Fitr does not begin until the visual sighting of the moon, however, more communities are agreeing on starting celebrations when the moon is due to be sighted, rather than relying on clear skies. The Eid date for UK communities is expected to begin on either Tuesday, 9 April 2024 or Wednesday, 10 April 2024.

This year, we wish all our contributors and volunteers a joyous Eid celebration and ask that you keep those who are not able to celebrate freely in your hearts and give generously to help those in need this Ramadan. As a leading Eid charity, we strive to ensure that your Zakat ul Fitr and Zakat contributions make the biggest impact by supporting vulnerable orphans around the world. Donate today and help us continue to bring hope into the lives of these children.