What is Eid al-Fitr?
The festival of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the most sacred month of the Muslim year and a period of obligatory fasting.
Eid al-Fitr means the ’festival of breaking of the fast’ and signals the start of Shawwal, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar.
Families and friends gather to eat and pray together during festivities that last up to three days in many Muslim countries.
Eid al-Fitr was started by the Islamic prophet Muhammad and is a time where Muslims show gratitude to Allah and give alms to the poor.
On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims join together in mosques to perform the Eid prayer, Salat, before holding family gatherings and sharing food with friends.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramadan
Muslims greet each other on the day by saying “Eid Mubarak", which translates as “blessed Eid”.
Eid al-Fitr is not a national holiday in Britain, but lots of schools and employers choose to grant time off for Muslims on the day.
It is not to be confused with Eid al-Adha, a separate holiday celebrated later in the year.
Eid falls on Saturday 25 June in the UK this year
Eid starts at the end of Ramadan - the exact date of which is determined by the sighting of the new moon.
Eid al-Fitr is today (Sunday 25 June 2017) in the UK, Europe, America and Muslim countries where the new new moon crescent was sighted last night.
Saudi Arabia's highest court has confirmed Eid's new moon crescent was sighted on Saturday night, meaning that Eid falls today.
Malaysia, Qatar, Turkey and other Arab countries have also confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated today.
But Iran, Oman and several other countries have reportedly not sighted the moon, meaning first day of Eid al-Fitr will fall tomorrow (Monday June 26).
Bangladesh, India and Pakistan did not begin Ramadan until May 28 and therefore will look for the Eid moon on Sunday night.
Eid al-Fitr is that only day of Shawwal that Muslims are not permitted to fast and many chose to fast for a further six days after Eid.
Muslims believe that by fasting for six days in Shawwal, they will be rewarded by Allah as if they had fasted for the entire year.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has invited people of all backgrounds to attend Eid Festival 2017 at Trafalgar Square on July 2.
Mr Khan said: “I encourage Londoners from all backgrounds and visitors to the city to come together at this year’s Eid Festival to celebrate the diversity and tolerance that is at the heart of our great city.”
Eid marks the start of the month of Shawwal
What is Ramadan?
Muslims across the world observe Ramadan to commemorate the first revelation of Muhammed.
This was when the archangel Gabriel revealed to Muhammed the beginnings of what would later become the Quran.
Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts 29-30 days depending on visual sightings of the crescent moon.
All adult Muslims are required to fast unless they are suffering from an illness, travelling, elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding.