Why Muslims celebrate two Eids and what each one signifies in Islam.
Dubai: For many, the word “Eid” brings to mind new clothes, family gatherings, and tables filled with food. But not all Eids are the same.
While the celebrations may appear similar, the two Islamic festivals observed each year carry distinct meanings, rituals, and places within the Islamic calendar.
Here is everything you need to know.
What does Eid mean?
The word “Eid” means “feast” or “festival” in Arabic. There are two Eids celebrated each year: Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.
Because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the dates of both Eids shift each year.
Eid Al Adha always falls just over two months after Eid Al Fitr.
On both occasions, Muslims attend special prayers at mosques, gather with family and friends, and exchange the greeting “Eid Mubarak,” which means “blessed Eid.”
Eid Al Fitr: the festival of breaking the fast
Eid Al Fitr is the first of the two Eids and marks the joyful end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, beginning the morning after the sighting of the new crescent moon.
The day typically begins early, with Muslims performing ghusl (ritual purification), wearing new clothes, eating something sweet such as dates, and heading to the mosque for Eid prayers. Before the prayers, it is obligatory to pay Zakat al-Fitr, a form of charity intended to purify one’s fast and ensure that those in need can also celebrate the occasion.
The rest of the day is spent feasting, visiting family and friends, and exchanging gifts. Eid Al Fitr typically lasts one day, though celebrations may extend to two or three days depending on the country.
At its core, Eid Al Fitr is a day of gratitude, marking the completion of Ramadan and honouring the spiritual discipline and strength gained through fasting.
Eid Al Adha: the festival of sacrifice
Eid Al Adha, known as the “Greater Eid,” holds deep religious significance in Islam. It commemorates the profound act of faith by the Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to God’s command. At the final moment, God intervened and replaced Ismail with a ram, marking it as a test of devotion.
Eid Al Adha falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam.
Each year, around three million Muslims travel to Mecca for Hajj, making this period one of the most significant moments in the Islamic calendar.
The central ritual of Eid Al Adha is Qurbani, the sacrifice of an animal such as a sheep, goat, or cow, performed after Eid prayers. The meat is traditionally divided into three parts: one for the family, one for relatives, and one for people in need, reflecting the festival’s emphasis on charity and sharing.
Eid Al Adha lasts for three days, making it longer than Eid Al Fitr, and is generally regarded as the more solemn and religiously significant of the two Islamic festivals.
What do the two Eids have in common?
Despite their different meanings, both Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are united by core Islamic values: faith, community, and charity.
Both occasions involve congregational prayers, sharing meals with family and friends, and giving to those in need. Together, they reflect Islam’s balance between personal devotion and social responsibility—one centred on fasting and reflection, and the other on sacrifice and service.
