When is Eid-ul-Fitr 2025?

Eid (عيد) is an Arabic word that can be translated as “Festival” or “Holiday.” When it comes to religious festivals, Islam has two most significant events: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Eid-ul-Fitr means “the Festival or Holiday of Breaking Fast.”

Historical Background of Eid-ul-Fitr

Per Islamic traditions, the religious festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha started after the historical migration of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Mecca to Medina. While the exact year of initiation of these festivals cannot be determined, it is widely believed to have been started once the Muslims were settled in Medina.

Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramzan, whereby Muslims spend a month fasting for Allah. Moreover, they also engage themselves in daily supplications and prayers to please Allah and gain rewards for this world and Hereafter. Once the Muslims complete all the essential sunnahs of Ramadan, they get to celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr

When is Eid-ul-Fitr 2025?

As explained above, the date of Eid-ul-Fitr cannot be pre-determined, as it depends on the appearance of the Shawwal moon. It is also variable in different parts of the world, with a difference of 1 to 3 days. In Pakistan and India, Ramadan is estimated to start by the evening of Friday, 28 February 2025, and will end on the evening of Sunday, 30^th March 2025. Accordingly, the Eid-ul-Fitr may fall on the 30^th March 2025 or 31^st March 2025.

In Saudi Arabia and Countries such as the UK that traditionally follow the Islamic dates announced by the Saudi Government, Ramadan started on 29^th March 2025 or 30^th March 2025. Hence, most Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to fall on the 31^st of March or the 01^st of April 2025.

How to Determine the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr?

Contrary to the Gregorian date system, the Islamic calendar is based on the movement of the moon. While the Gregorian date starts at midnight, the Islamic date starts right after sunset. Hence, the first day of an Islamic month is determined by the sighting of the new moon after the sunset of the 29^th day of the current month. If the new moon could not be sighted on the end of the 29^th day of the current Islamic month, the next day is observed as the 30^th day of the month and the next month would start the day after.

Moon Sighting Activity for Eid-ul-Fitr

The very important task of sighting a new moon for every Islamic month nowadays is institutionalized at the Government level in almost all Islamic Countries. Therefore, the new moon’s sighting will be announced by the relevant department of each Islamic country. Eid-ul-Fitr falls on the 1^st day of Shawwal (10^th month of Islamic Calendar).

After sunset on the 29^th of Ramadan (9^th Islamic month), people venture to see the new moon. After verification per their SOPs, the relevant authority declares the sighting or otherwise of the new moon. So, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr cannot be pre-determined; it is subject to the sighting of the new moon in the Islamic month of Shawwal. Due to this reason, the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr may not fall on the same Gregorian Dates in different countries.

The Day of Eid-ul-Fitr in Islam

As a religious festive occasion, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr comprises worship and celebrations simultaneously. It starts with the sighting of the Shawwal moon. This night is popularly known as “Chand Raat” (the moon night) in South Asian Countries, where it is celebrated according to their local cultural traditions. However, this is not a part of the Eid rituals. The traditions and customs for Eid may vary from culture to culture, yet a few of these still remain the same. To learn in detail about these customs and traditions, Click here.

Some Traditions Around Eid-Ul-Fitr

Some famous traditions of Eid ul Fitr are as follows:

1. Offering Salat-ul-Eid

The day of Eid-ul-Fitr starts with a special prayer known as Salat-ul-Eid. It is offered immediately after sunrise on the first day of Shawwal. It comprises of two Rakah (Units). Unlike the other regular prayers, the call to prayer is not performed in the case of Salat-ul-Eid. Another important thing differentiating it from five regular prayers is offering six additional takbiraat (saying Allahu Akbar) thrice in each Rakah.

This special Prayer is offered in congregations, preferably in open fields. However, depending on the local circumstances and space availability, it can also be offered in community centers or Mosques.

Followed by this prayer, Khutba-e-Eid (Eid Sermon) is delivered by the Imam. Listening to this Khutba is an essential part of this prayer. This is evident from the Hadith number 957 of Sahih Al-Bukhari:

Translation – Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to offer the prayer of `Id-ul-Adha and `Id-ul-Fitr and then deliver the Khutba after the prayer.

Another Sunnah for performing Salat-ul-Eid is to follow one route from home to the place of Salat and another path when returning home.

2. The Tradition of Eating Something Sweet Before Going for Salat-ul-Eid

It is a very popular tradition amongst the entire Muslim Community to eat something sweet before going for Salat-ul-Eid. Muslims do this according to their local cultural traditions by eating sweet food. The tradition is based on the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as narrated in the Hadith number 953 of Sahih Al-Bukhari:

Translation – Narrated Anas bin Malik

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of `Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to eat odd number of dates.

3. Meet and Greet on the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr

Once the Salat-ul-Eid is offered and Khutba delivered by the Imam, people embrace each other and wish “Eid Mubarak” to each other. This is a traditional way of meet and greet on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Like any other important event in Islam, we can find guidance from the Quran and Sunnah for the celebration of Eid-ul-FItr. 36^th verse of Surah An-Nisa guides us about how we should celebrate Eid while staying within the permissible limits:

Translation

Serve Allah and ascribe no partner to Him. Do good to your parents, to near of kin, to orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin and to the neighbor who is a stranger, and to the companion by your side, and to the wayfarer, and to those whom your right hands possess. Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful,

So, while celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, we should remember the guidance provided in the above-referred verse from the Quran. We should remember the orphans, poor, and needy people during our Eid Celebrations. Likewise, we have to remember our parents, close relatives, and neighbors. Islam always encourages strong bonds within the family and the community.

4. Zakat al Fitr (Fitrana)

As narrated in the above referred Quranic verse, one has to remember the needy and poor in every celebration. The same is applicable on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. It is compulsory for every head of the family to give Zakat al Fitr (Fitrana) on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, preferably before going for Salat-ul-Eid, for each member of the family.  There are so many references in Hadith Books about this important act on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Hadith 1509 of Sahih Al-Bukhari speaks about this obligatory act:

Translation

Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered the people to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before going to the `Id prayer.

The amount or quantity of Zakat Al-Fitr is determined in the Hadith 1506 of Sahih Al-Bukhari as under:

Translation – Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri

We used to give one Sa’ of meal or one Sa’ of barley or one Sa’ of dates, or one Sa’ of cottage cheese or one Sa’ of Raisins (dried grapes) as Zakat-ul-Fitr.

As a matter of practice, Zakat al-Fitr or Fitrana is paid in cash these days, which can be determined based on the parameters explained in the above Hadith. The amount should be calculated based on the prices of the commodities in the local market. It should also be kept in mind that the amount of Zakat al-Fitr would be different for each commodity.

FAQ’s

What is Eid-Ul-Fitr?

Eid-Ul-Fit is an important Islamic festival that is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, which is the holy month of fasting.

Why does the date for Eid-Ul-Fitr change every year?

Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar follows the lunar system to decide when an Islamic month is set to start. It is one of the reasons that the date of Eid-Ul-Fitr may vary every year.

Is there a public holiday on Eid-Ul-Fitr?

In most of the Muslim majority countries, Eid-Ul-Fitr is a public holiday that lasts for the entire three days of Eid. In other Western countries, it may not be a holiday but some offices may give a day of leave to all their Muslim employees in respect of the occasion.

Can Non-Muslims celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr?

Islam is a religion of peace and acceptance, and therefore, it allows any non-Muslim to join in the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. Many Muslims who live in Western countries invite their non-Muslim friends to share a meal so that they may experience our culture and religion.