The Islamic tradition behind the Eid ul Fitr

By mid-June, 2018, Muslims all around the world will be celebrating Eid ul Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. This is a Muslim festival during which the traditional greeting of Eid Mubarak will rent the air along with the eid mubarak images sharing on social media such as whatsapp and facebook. After fasting for one month between sunrise and sunset, the Muslims are getting ready to resume a normal life. It is one of the most important religious holidays in Islam, with Eidal-Adha, literally "the Feast of theSacrifice", commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham.rnIt is worth remembering that this is a day of celebration during which, after the month of Ramadan, more than a billion Muslims on the planet celebrate the achievement of Ramadan and their success in fasting for a month. Between family and friends, they meet, visit, share their meals and forgive each other. Meals and pastries are prepared for this occasion in each home and shared with families, friends or offered to neighbors. All in joy and good mood. It's also a gift day.rnFor Muslims, it is especially a moment for the self-evaluation of the month of fasting which has just passed. Everyone reflects on the good things he has done and what he still needs to do to get his fast accepted. Like all Muslim religious holidays, the Eid El Fitr is a great moment of reflection and spirituality. In the first day of the monthof Shawwal, which follows the month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar, Muslims are enjoined to go to the mosque for a morning prayer.rnTo prepare, they are invited to take a bath and to dress in their best clothes, to mark the exceptional character of this day. Traditionally, it is recommended to eat before leaving home to distinguish this day from the month of fasting. On the way to the mosque, practitioners exchange greetings with those they meet. It is also advisable, on the road or before beginning the prayer, to sing praises to God. rnEstablishing social linksrnIf this is not already done, Muslims must also pay zakat el-fitr, the alms addressed to the poorest. Otherwise, it remains the responsibility of the Muslim as a debt until he pays. After the prayer, the Muslims return traditionally from the mosque by a different way from the one they took on the way. They visit their families, then their friends, to present their wishes for health and happiness. They distribute cakes to their loved ones, but also to their neighbors, in the broad sense. This is the opportunity to establish social connection and to please others without expecting anything in return.