Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Jonah Blank, Mullahs on the Main-

frame: Islam and Modernity among the Daudi Bohras

(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001); 104–110; 

John R. Bowen, “On Scriptural Essentialism and Ritual 

Variation: Muslim Sacrifice in Sumatra and Morocco.” 

American Ethnologist 19 (Nov. 1992): 656–671; Hava 

Lazarus-Yafeh, “Muslim Festivals.” Numen 25 (April 

1978): 52–64.

Id al-Fitr

 

(Arabic: Feast of Fast-Breaking)

The second most important yearly festival on the 

Islamic 

calendar

 after i

d

 

al

-a

dha

 is Id al-Fitr, or 

al-Id al-Saghir (Little Feast). This holiday is also 

known as Kuchuk Bayram (Little Feast) in Turkic 

lands and Hari Raya Puasa (Fasting Day of Cel-

ebration) in m

alaysia

. The festival celebrates the 

end of the r

amadan

 fast and begins with the sight-

ing of the new moon on the eve of the first day of 

the 10th month (Shawwal) of the Islamic lunar 

year. It usually lasts for up to three days. In Mus-

lim-majority countries today, it has been declared 

a public 

holiday

, like Id al-Adha. To prepare for 

the holiday, each person is obliged to offer charity 

for the needy during the closing days of Ramadan. 

This is called zakat al-fitr or zakat Ramadan, and 

K  342  

Id al-Adha

---

it is comparable to the animal sacrifices performed 

for the Id al-Adha. It is supposed to earn forgive-

ness for wrongs done during Ramadan and help 

provide assistance to the poor so that they can 

enjoy the holiday too. Muslims who are able are 

expected to attend a special communal 

prayer

 in 

the early morning, traditionally held in open air 

or at a 

mosqUe

, where they listen to a holiday 

ser

-

mon

. When prayers end, people go home to break 

their fast with a daytime meal.

Like other major feasts during the year, Id 

al-Fitr enhances the sense of community among 

believers. People gather together with family and 

friends; 

children

 go outdoors to play wearing 

brightly colored new holiday clothes. Girls in 

i

ndia

 and p

akistan

 show off fresh henna designs 

on the hands and arms. Gifts are exchanged 

between family members. Each local Muslim cul-

ture has its own holiday food traditions. In many 

countries, sweet pastries are a favorite food, tra-

ditionally prepared by 

Women

 at home during the 

last days of Ramadan. Rice and vermicelli dishes 

are also popular.

See also 

almsgiving

; 

Feasting

; 

Food

 

and

drink

.