A s Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims across the UK and around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a joyous occasion that marks the end of the holy month and the beginning of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. This year, Eid is expected to fall on Thursday or Friday March 20/21, with the exact date confirmed on Wednesday evening depending on the sighting of the crescent moon. For those who began their fast on Thursday February 19, following either local moon sightings in the UK or calendars from nearby Islamic countries like Morocco, Eid may also be observed on Saturday March 22. In the UK, Eid is more than a spiritual milestone — it’s a day of family, friends, and festive celebrations, often accompanied by time off school or work. To capture the personal side of the holiday, I spoke to young Muslims about what Eid means to them, how they celebrate, and the moments that make the day truly special.
For all Muslims, Eid is a celebration, yet we can’t help but say our goodbyes to Ramadan with a heavy heart. The blessings, the late nights, the whole community coming together at one time, are all things that we will (definitely) miss. This Ramadan in particular went by lighter than the rest, maybe it’s the transition to longer working hours, maybe it’s the winter that made it feel shorter. Either way, my takeaway was that Allah is the most merciful (Omar Suleiman series Ep 1) and it’s the consistent lighter deeds that are heavier on the Rahman’s scale.
My memories of Eid are those of the ambiance. During my upbringing in Egypt, the morning of Eid felt different, with Takbeers ringing through the streets, decorations hung from balcony to balcony, prayer mats laid across the entire street to accommodate prayers and volunteers roaming the rows to distribute toys.
For my family, Eid usually starts the night before, with the Makkah takbeers live-streamed in the background, and the whole family comes together to make Kahk, a traditional biscuit made with dates or nuts, after which comes the deep house clean. This Eid, our day will commence like every other, scrambling to make Eid prayers, followed by breakfast with our family friends in a nearby city, and then whatever the rest of the day brings. It remains one of my favourite days.
Eid is important to me as it’s a day Allah gave us to celebrate for His sake alone. Giving the ummah the opportunity to come together in celebration and to spread joy and love between one another in His Name Alone. It’s important for Muslims to celebrate it in the UK as this day was gifted to us by our Lord so we must honour it by not treating it like any other day just because we aren’t in a Muslim country. Eid is about the ummah coming together from all backgrounds to celebrate wherever you are. This Ramadan I gained a new perspective in learning how to navigate working full time for the first time in Ramadan and looking for ways to connect with Allah whilst working. It hasn’t been easy there have been good days and bad days. But this has caused me to think about how I will plan my future Ramadans in a way that I can benefit more from the month.
A memorable Eid of mine from recent years would be Eid during lockdown. It was a very different because of restrictions we pray Eid salah at home. It was a very new experience having my dad lead us for Eid salah rather than going to the mosque to pray. However, it was lovely to see the family come together to still carry out Eid salah for Allah.
This year for Eid I plan to visit my friends and family and have lots of delicious food.
As Eid marks the end of Ramadan, it is a day of celebration that gives us the opportunity to reflect on our spiritual growth throughout the month, while also reconnecting and sharing joy with friends and extended family. In the UK especially, it brings together a wide and diverse Muslim community so that people from different cultural backgrounds can celebrate their shared faith. I also think it is important because it helps foster greater understanding of our traditions and culture among non-Muslims.
Every Ramadan, I find that I become more self-disciplined and mindful of my prayers. In such a fast-paced world, the month gives me a moment to slow down, reflect and be more intentional about my actions. It encourages empathy for others, through acts of charity and being involved in community Iftar events. As a result, Ramadan helps me reset my habits and priorities.
One of my favourite memories from Eid is from when I was younger, as it was one of the few occasions I would get to see and spend time with all of my cousins. Now that everyone is older and busier, such opportunities are much rarer. Eid was always the time when everyone would take a break from their routines to come together, which made it particularly special.
One tradition my family has maintained over the years is spending the day visiting each other’s homes and trying different dishes everyone has prepared. We usually spend a couple of hours at each house before moving on to the next. It can feel a little hectic, but it is always incredibly enjoyable. Everyone dresses up and the day is filled with food, laughter and conversation. For Eid-ul-Fitr this year, Insh’Allah I plan to start the day with Eid prayer alongside my family.
Eid is important to me as it is a religious celebration. It’s a special day that makes me feel happy following the month of Ramadan despite already missing the peace that the month brings.
During Ramadan, I was able to work on my character, especially learning to be patient with others. I also focused on the Qur’an and made the effort to read it consistently. Eid is the final chapter of this beautiful month where you get to spend time with your friends and family.
This year, I plan on spending Eid by going to Eid prayer and having brunch with my closest friends, Insha Allah.
