Islam has two major holidays, Eid Ul-Fitr (Post-Fasting Festival) and Eid Ul-Adha.

The word Eid itself is an Arabic word, whose root connotation is 'that which comes back, time after time, and rejoicing.' Its particular usage in Islam, for the two major holidays, is because these two days are meant to be days of rejoicing.[1]

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "They are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God." [Reported by Bukhari in his Sahih, an authoritative collection of the sayings of the Prophet.]

In this same spirit, the Qur'an mentions:

"Eid is on Tuesday. What d'you mean, we're having our on Wednesday. How come? Hey that's when our mosque is doing it so don't ask me!"

How many of us have had this kind of chat year in year out? Why do we have Eid on two separate days? Why can't the ulema agree to have it on one day? What are the arguments and debates behind the scene? Who's to blame?

The following saying of the Prophet (SAW) should make this clear: "Fast after sighting the moon and end the moon after sighting it. If it is cloudy then complete thirty days of shaban." (Bukhari)

The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim community. Once a year Icky baby and the Sams becomes Iqbal and Sameera.

Off come the baggy jeans, the Nike 180's and the Raiders cap. On come the yellow Shalwar Kameez (clothes most Pakistanis wear), the brylcreamed hairstyle which glues on that terribly uncool Towpee(cap) and in comes the miswak in the top pocket, making you look like something like "Karachi cops".

It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference section) and begin to act it out. Icky baby becomes temporarily religious.

An Idiot’s Guide to Eid
By Sajid Iqbal
Editor, The Revival

Published in the Oldham Evening Chronicle

What is Eid?
Eid is a festival celebrated throughout the world by all Muslims.

Is Eid just like Christmas?
Eid you could say is similar to Christians celebrating Christmas. Both are religious festivals but the reasons for celebrating them are different.