عيد الفطر

A celebration given by Allah. Eid al-Fitr, on the 1st of the month of Shawwaal, marks the end of the fast. It is a day of joy, of thanks and of reunion. Fasting on the day of Eid is forbidden (Bukhari 1990, Muslim 1137) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

The takbiir. Allah says, at the end of the verses on fasting: "… so that you complete the number of days and proclaim Allah's greatness for having guided you" (meaning of 2:185). The takbiir is repeated from the night of Eid (for many scholars, from sunset; for others, from the morning) until the start of the prayer [À VÉRIFIER]. A common formula: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha illa llaah, wa llaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa lillaahi l-ḥamd. Other formulas are reported from the companions (for example with three takbiir at the start).

The sunnas of the day: • Take the ghusl (full ablution) and wear your best clothes, as some companions did [À VÉRIFIER : références]. • Eat a few dates, an odd number, before going out to the prayer (Bukhari 953). • Go to the prayer by one route and come back by another (Bukhari 986). • Come as a family: the Prophet ﷺ asked that women, even those not praying that day, come to witness the good and the supplication of the Muslims (Bukhari 324, Muslim 890). • Congratulate one another. Some companions would say: "Taqabbala llaahu minnaa wa minkum", "May Allah accept from us and from you" [À VÉRIFIER : référence].

The Eid prayer. Two rak'as, without adhaan or iqaama, with extra takbiirs at the start of each rak'a (their number differs between schools), followed by a sermon (khuṭba). Its legal status also differs: obligatory (waajib) for the Hanafi school, a strongly recommended sunna for the Maliki and Shafi'i schools, a collective obligation for the Hanbali school [À VÉRIFIER]. In every case, one does not miss it without reason. The time and place are announced by the centre.

After Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it is as if he had fasted the whole year." (Muslim 1164). And: "The deeds most beloved to Allah are the most regular, even if they are few." (Bukhari 6464, Muslim 783). Choose one or two good habits from Ramadan (a page of Qur'an, two rak'as at night, regular charity) and keep them all year.

Going further: the centre's imam remains available for all the questions in this course, especially those marked as differing between schools.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Eid is not just the end of deprivation: it is an act of worship in its own right. We thank Allah for enabling us to fast, through the takbir, the prayer and shared joy. Verse 2:185 links the end of the month directly to proclaiming Allah's greatness and to gratitude.

Joy is part of the sunnah of this day: fine clothes, food, visits, greetings. But a truly Muslim celebration forgets no one. It is the day to think of people who are alone, of new Muslims who have no Muslim family, of the sick and the poor. Zakat al-fitr (lesson 6) prepares precisely for this day.

Scholars have often recalled one idea: the sign that an act of worship has been accepted is that it is followed by other good deeds. Hence the importance of keeping one or two regular habits after Ramadan, even small ones, and of fasting six days of Shawwal if one can.

Several details of this day differ between the schools (when the takbir starts, the number of takbirs in the prayer, its legal status): the centre announces its practice, and the imam can explain it.

Lessons to draw from it • Live Eid as an act of worship: takbir, prayer and thanks, before the celebration. • Invite or visit those who might spend Eid alone. • Keep one or two regular good habits after Ramadan, even small ones. • Respect other mosques' different practices, while following the centre's.

Key points to remember • Eid al-Fitr is the 1st of Shawwal; fasting on that day is forbidden. • Sunnahs: takbir, a few dates before the prayer (Bukhari 953), changing route (Bukhari 986), coming as a family. • Six days of Shawwal after Ramadan: "as if he had fasted the whole year" (Muslim 1164).

The main message Eid is a day of gratitude and shared joy, and the best follow-up to Ramadan is a good habit kept all year.