DUSHANBE, September 20, Asia-Plus — This year, Tajikistan marks Idi Fitr (Eid ul-Fitr) on September 21.
Typically, Muslims wake up early in the morning and have a small breakfast (as a sign of not being on a fast on that day) of preferably the date fruit, before attending a special Id (festive) prayer (salah) that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) for the occasion.
Tomorrow morning, the special Id prayer will be preformed in congregation at all mosques across the country.
According to the Shuroi Ulamo (Top Islamic body in Tajikistan), some 15,000 Muslims are expected to gather at the Dushanbe central mosque for the Id prayer that will be led by Tajikistan’s Grant Mufti Amonullo Nematozoda.
The Id prayer is followed by the khutbah (sermon) and then a supplication (dua”) asking for forgiveness, mercy and help for all living beings across the world. The khutbah also instructs Muslims as to the performance of rituals of Id, such as the zakat. Zakat is the giving of a small percentage of one”s possessions (surplus wealth) to charity generally to poor and needy people.
After the prayers, people also visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances and some people also pay visits to the graveyards,
Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fiṭr means “charity” (and can also mean “nature”, from the word “fitrah”); and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
Eid ul-Fitr is a day long celebration and is sometimes also known as the “Smaller Eid” as compared to the Eid ul-Adha that lasts four days and is called the “Greater Eid.”
