DUSHANBE, August 30, Asia-Plus — Many Muslims in Tajikistan are not certain when the holy month of Ramadan will end, and whether they must fast on August 30.
Part of Tajik Muslims, including the majority members of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), stopped fasting today, while in Tajikistan, Eid ul-Fitr or Idi Ramazon will be officially celebrated on August 31.
The IRP deputy head Mahmadali Hoit told Asia-Plus today that the fast is over today. “According to our data, the whole Islamic world is celebrating Eid al-Fitr today, except Tajikistan and Uzbekistan,” Mr. Hoit noted. Although the majority of the IRP supporters stopped fasting today, they will go to celebratory prayers on August 31 as instructed by the Shuroi Ulamo (Council of Ulems, a group of scholars and imams that provides interpretations of religious practice).
It is to be noted that most countries, including Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states, are celebrating Eid ul-Fitr today.
But Tajikistan’s Shuroi Ulamo has announced that August 30 is the last day of fasting, and Eid ul-Fitr should be celebrated on August 31.
The Shuroi Ulamo Secretary Nematulo Olimov says that according to data from the Institute for Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, the new moon will be visible on Tajik territory today night. For that reason, Tajik Muslims should continue fasting on August 30.
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 Fitr means “to purify”; and so the holiday symbolizes the purification after completing the fasting month which is after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.
Eid ul-Fitr lasts for one day of celebrations and is sometimes also known as the “Smaller Eid” as compared to the Eid al-Adha that lasts three days following the Hajj and is casually referred to as the “Greater Eid.”
On this day, Muslims attend the special Eid prayer (salah). An obligatory charity, is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the ‘Eid prayer by all those adult Muslims who are required to pay Zakat. Eid prayer is performed in congregation in open areas like fields, squares etc or at mosques. After the prayers, people visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances. Gifts are frequently given, it is common for children to be given small sums of money by adult relatives or friends. It is also common for children to salam parents and adult relatives, they usually get sweeties or money from the adult relatives or friends.
