Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr is one of the most joyful and spiritually meaningful occasions in the Islamic calendar, celebrated by around two billion Muslims worldwide. Its name translates to "the festival of breaking the fast," marking the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.
Ramadan is far more than abstaining from food and drink. For Muslims, it is a month of deep spiritual renewal, increased prayer, reflection, and gratitude to God. It is a time to strengthen one’s relationship with God, practise self-discipline, and develop empathy for those who go without.
Eid ul-Fitr is therefore not simply a celebration of the end of Ramadan, but rather a celebration of the accomplishment of Ramadan.
The day begins with a special congregational prayer at the mosque. Before this, Muslims give Zakat ul-Fitr, a charitable donation that ensures even those less fortunate can share in the celebrations. The rest of the day is spent with family and friends, exchanging gifts, sharing food, and offering the greeting "Eid Mubarak", meaning "blessed Eid." At Wilson’s, we hosted the annual Eid lunch – one of the most popular events of the year! With hundreds of slices of pizza devoured in around 20 minutes, and many tasty homemade dishes shared, it is safe to say the Eid lunch was a great success for the school community.
At Wilson’s, we celebrate Eid with a lunch where students gather together and bring in food to share with their peers. This year, we asked for contributions and raised over £600 for charity.
A few reflections from Wilsonians who celebrate Eid
Shayan (Year 12) commented:
"For me, Eid is a time of reflection to cultivate the good habits you've made during Ramadan and aim to continue them through the rest of the year."
Yusuf (Year 11) highlighted:
"It's a time to have more 'taqwa' (become more mindful of God) and of course celebrate".
And the leader of the Islamic Society, Adam (Year 13), said the following:
"It's a time of community and spending time with friends and family to remember Allah together".
For us, Eid is not only a celebration of the end of Ramadan, but also a celebration of a new beginning – where a person emerges from Ramadan with new habits, ready to have a good year and be more virtuous, while of course enjoying the long-awaited platters of food!
Article written by Rayyan and Yusuf (both Year 12)