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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Dave Stubbings

Eid al-Fitr 2020: When is Eid and when does Ramadan officially end?

For the past four weeks Muslims around the world have been taking part in Ramadan.

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar sees Muslims fast during daylight hours, only able to eat and drink after sunset when they break fast for the iftar meal.

Ramadan is a time to bring Muslims closer to Allah and devote themselves to their faith, with multiple prayers said and charitable acts encouraged during this time.

The month-long festival is now coming to a close, with the final day of fasting this weekend before the start of Eid al-Fitr.

When is Eid al-Fitr?

Like Ramadan, the dates of Eid move each year because the Islamic calendar is based on phases of the moon.

The new crescent moon, marking the start of Islam's next lunar month, should be seen to mark the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid.

A crescent moon marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the next Islamic month, Shawwal (AFP / Getty)

This year it could have begun at sunset on either Saturday (May 23) or Sunday (May 24), depending on when the moon - marking the next Islamic month of Shawwal - was visible.

The moon had to be visible on Friday night for Eid to begin on Saturday, however weather conditions prevented this. As a result, Ramadan will last its maximum length of 30 days, and Eid will begin at sunset on Sunday.

Some Muslim communities use the moon sightings over Mecca in Saudi Arabia to determine when their Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr celebrations begin, while others rely on the sky nearer to home.

As a result, some Eid celebrations can differ by a maximum of 24 hours as Ramadan doesn't continue beyond 30 days.

What is Eid al-Fitr?

Muslims traditionally gather together to celebrate Eid al-Fitr (Getty)

Eid al-Fitr is known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” and is a time when Muslims put on their best clothes and feast together as a family.

Traditionally, they also visit friends and neighbours to share food.

Before Eid prayers can commence, Muslims must pay money to the poor in an act of charity known as Zakut-ul-fitr.

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