Eid al-Fitr is a special time of year that marks the end of fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan. In this article, we’ll discuss its meaning, significance, and how it's celebrated – plus, we’ll share some interesting facts!
Did you know that more than two billion Muslims will celebrate Eid al-fitr in 2025? This special observation is significant to followers of Islam, as it commemorates the end of the fasting period during Ramadan and marks a time of spiritual renewal.
Keep reading to learn more about this festival, including some interesting facts and how to give back during this charitable period.
Also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” Eid al-fitr is a blessed occasion to celebrate the end of Ramadan (the fasting month).
Muslims around the world unite in a shared sense of gratitude towards Allah for the strength to endure the fast. This is also a time to celebrate the joy of the spiritual renewal the end of the fast brings.
The sighting of the moon determines the date. Because of its date changing every year, this special Islamic holiday is famously known as the “moveable feast.” This year, Eid al-fitr is forecast to take place from March 30 to March 31, 2025.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. They refrain from any food, drink, profanity, and other behaviors. This is done to cleanse the soul, develop a greater sense of self-discipline, and grow closer to Allah.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, encouraging Muslims to reflect spiritually, resist worldly indulgences, practice patience, and show more devotion to their faith.
As such, this particular Eid is a reward for participating in fasting, prayer, and seeking forgiveness for sins. The Eid festival is held to show gratitude to God for his mercy and multiplied blessings. It’s also a time to remember the lessons learned during Ramadan, which include showing compassion toward the less fortunate.
The festival starts with salat al-Eid, the Eid call to prayer performed shortly after sunrise. Muslims tend to gather in large communal spaces, like mosques or even parks. After two consecutive units of prayer take place, a sermon – known as the khutbah – is held.
The khutbah is when the imam will spotlight the key lessons learned during Ramadan and remind the Muslim community – called the ummah – of their sacrifices, good deeds, and spiritual gains.
Eid al-fitr in 2025 and beyond is also a time of charity (sadaqah). As a Muslim, you are encouraged to give zakat al-fitr to the poor and needy, which is a charitable donation of food.
In more modern times, zakat al-fitr is also paid in monetary value to an Islamic organization or masjid that assists the less fortunate.
As a Muslim, you are obligated to give zakat al-fitr, regardless of age or gender. Zakat al-fitr is due before the Eid call to prayer when the sun sets on the final day of Ramadan. This special form of sadaqah enables the poor and needy to join in the special celebration of Eid al-fitr.
Bonus resource: Interested to learn more about zakat al-fitr? Check out our blog post!
After salat al-Eid, the festivities begin! Muslims celebrate by getting together with family and close friends, accompanied by a big feast.
Muslims often wear beautiful new clothes, exchange gifts, and travel to see loved ones or stay home to celebrate. Some Muslims also decorate their homes with festive decor or visit restaurants to indulge in delicious spreads, community, and cheerful decorations.
Food forms a huge part of the celebration, with traditional dishes and sweets being served. These include a vermicelli pudding known as sheer khurma, halwa, pecan-stuffed dates, and other delicious sweet treats often shared with neighbors and friends.
There are many ways to celebrate this joyous occasion! Since Eid places a strong focus on charity, raising funds or giving back to the community is a wonderful way to participate – even in the days leading up to the festival! Here are some ideas to get you started.
You can give zakat – a sacred pillar of Islam – by donating to a trustworthy Islamic organization or masjid that helps those in need.
Zakat is an obligation of every Muslim and a way to receive blessings from Allah for faithfulness.
If you’re stuck on which Islamic organization to donate to, we’ve got you covered! Check out our blog post on the top 10 most trustworthy Muslim charities to trust with your zakat.
Use our convenient zakat calculator to work out how much you owe before making your donation.
In-person fundraising events are ideal in the days leading up to Eid. Many Islamic nonprofit organizations host Ramadan fundraising events to give back to the ummah and ensure that the less fortunate can join in on the celebrations.
Collect donations on Eid al-fitr in 2025 and beyond using a donation kiosk to quickly accept cashless donations using credit/debit cards, smartphones, and even smartwatches.
Make it easy for the ummah to give freely by placing a kiosk at the entry or exit points of your mosque during Ramadan, and even on the day of Eid. This makes it easy for them to donate when they feel most moved to give back.
And, add a QR code to your kiosk to redirect them to a touching video demonstrating the impact of donations, or to thank them for their support!
Donorbox Live™ Kiosk helps you turn your iPad, Android tablet, or Android smartphone into a giving kiosk! Simply pair your tablet with a card reader – or use our Tap-to-Pay feature, which utilizes your Android smartphone’s built-in payment processor.
Pro tip: Remember to set donation designations like zakat and sadaqah to streamline the giving process for the ummah.
A crowdfunding campaign is a great way to raise funds online. Donorbox Crowdfunding allows you to create a powerful, brand-aligned campaign that builds donor trust. Add a touching image and leverage the power of storytelling to encourage the ummah to donate to your nonprofit or masjid this Eid al-fitr.
Your supporters can then share your crowdfunding campaign on social media and stay in the loop with updates you post along the way.
You can also take things to the next level by allowing your supporters to fundraise on your behalf with Peer-to-Peer fundraising. When supporters click the “I want to fundraise for this” button, they’ll receive an email prompting them to set up their own fundraising pages, which opens up your campaign to supporters you may not otherwise have reached.
You can even add a goal meter that showcases the progress of your campaign and motivates more donors to give!
Check out this Eid crowdfunding campaign hosted for free on Donorbox. They’ve raised £1,695 to provide Eid gifts to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury.
Whichever fundraising method you choose – whether it be online or on location – be sure to include a moving Islamic fundraising message that appeals to your supporters and encourages them to give generously!
Bonus resource: Get creative with these 17 fundraising ideas for Islamic charities.
There is more than one Eid holiday to look forward to in 2025! Here are other Eid festivals to take note of.
The Day of Arafah – or Arafat – commemorates the day that Allah perfected the religion of Islam. This momentous occasion is considered the most important day of the Islamic year. It’s the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and is followed by Eid al-Adha.
Muslims who meet a certain set of criteria embark on a journey to Mount Arafat, also known as the “hill of mercy.” Mount Arafat is located 20 kilometers from the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muslims worldwide typically worship and fast on this day to purify their souls. This prepares them to receive the ultimate reward of entering Jannah (Paradise).
Muslims also celebrate Eid al-Adha, the second of the two significant Eid festivals on the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the final (twelfth) month on the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival can last anywhere between two to four days at a time.
This special Eid commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah after sacrificing his son, Ismail. Eid al-Adha follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage at the time of qurbani (sacrifice).
Following Eid salaah (prayers) at a mosque on the morning of Eid, the act of qurbani occurs – where an animal is slaughtered in remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim’s ultimate sacrifice for Allah. The qurbani meat is then divided into three portions for family, friends, and the less fortunate.
Here are some interesting facts about this joyous Islamic festival – which you may or may not know!
Eid al-Fitr is a significant festival that unites billions of Muslims worldwide to celebrate the breaking of the fast during Ramadan. This time is met with goodwill and charity, ensuring all Muslims can partake in the blessings of Allah.
Donorbox makes it easy for the ummah to give back faithfully before and during Eid. We’ve helped over 100,000 organizations – including Islamic charities – raise a collective $3 billion and counting. We’re committed to helping you raise the funds that help you do more good for others.
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Jamy-Lee Holt