AID 2022. The festival of breaking the fast in Ramadan or “Eid el-Fitr” is approaching. Its date must be announced at the end of the lunar observation of the “Night of Doubt” organized this Saturday at the Grand Mosque of Paris. Linternaute.com takes stock.
summary
[Mis à jour le 30 avril 2022 à 10h] When is the end of Ramadan this year? Estimated by astronomical calculations to be Monday, May 2nd, 2022, the date has already been confirmed on this scientific basis by the CFCM (main representation of Islam in France) through a press release published in mid-March. However, there is an additional method to determine the end date (as well as the start date) of Ramadan: the date of Eid al-Fitr must be confirmed by traditional lunar observation of the “Night of Doubt” coupled with astronomical calculations. this Saturday evening at the Great Mosque of Paris. Said “Night of Doubt” takes place on the 29th day of the month of Ramadan 1443 of the Muslim lunar calendar. When the crescent moon can be seen in the sky with the naked eye, Ramadan lasts 29 days and the month of Shawwal (month after Ramadan) begins the next day. If we cannot see the crescent of the new moon with the naked eye, the month of Ramadan lasts 30 days and the new month does not start until the next day.
Eid al-Fitr takes place on the 1st day of the month of Shawwal. For the Hijri year 1443 (current year in the Muslim lunar calendar), the 1st day of Shawwal should correspond to Monday, May 2, 2022 according to astronomical calculations. The theological commission present at the Grand Mosque of Paris this Saturday evening is likely to confirm this date of Eid el-Fitr.
The date of Eid al-Fitr was already communicated last March
To summarize the decisions taken in recent months, the CFCM, the main representation of Muslims in France, had confirmed the theoretical dates of Ramadan based on astronomical calculations in a March 13 press release quoted by franceinfo. The Great Mosque of Paris has in fact scheduled a night of doubt to record the dates of Ramadan, which did not prevent the coordination of the four Muslim associations (FFAIACA, GMP, MF and RMF) that deviated from the CFCM and with the Great are connected Mosque of Paris, to announce a statement March 15, the estimated date of the end of the blessed month, Eid el-Fitr.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan: its date is actually the first of the month following Ramadan. This date is determined by the traditional lunar observation of the “Night of Doubt” / “Night of Annunciation” as occurs for each month-end of the Muslim lunar calendar. In the “Hijri” calendar, the name of the Muslim lunar calendar, fasting in Ramadan lasts a full lunar month. The duration of this lunar month, which can be spread over 29 days, is therefore not officially defined for the time being. In fact, the CFCM had confirmed that this year would be 30 days, based on the Shawwal Crescent calculations for the year 1443 AH: “Precise astronomical calculations confirm that the conjunction will occur on April 29, 2022 at 23:28 GMT So the month of Ramadan lasts thirty days. But the announcement of the Grand Mosque of Paris on April 26 creates uncertainty. On the night of doubt this Saturday, April 30, the Theological Commission must determine the length of this lunar month.
For the dissident associations of the CFCM (main representation of Islam in France) and the Grand Mosque, as well as for a whole group of believers (there are two schools), the end date of Ramadan can only be confirmed at the end of a “night of doubt” traditionally the observation of the crescent moon. Usually it is the CFCM (French Council of Muslim Worship) that formalizes the D-Day, after consulting astronomical data, the date of Eid el-Fitr, via a press release published on the Twitter account of the Grand Mosque of Paris. After the disagreements that aroused the CFCM, the panel is no longer necessarily invited to the Grand Mosque of Paris for the announcement of the beginning and end of Ramadan, but also on the basis of astronomical data. This year, however, the CFCM did not want to remain behind the announcement of the dates for the month of Ramadan.
At the end of the “Night of Doubt” aka “Night of Annunciation” of lunar observation on April 30th, the official end date of Ramadan is confirmed. This very special night is organized by the Grand Mosque of Paris and a dissident coordination of the CFCM on the evening of the 29th day of the month of Ramadan. On this occasion, the religious commission traditionally confirms the end date of Ramadan and de facto that of Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the breaking of the fast the following day. Generally, Eid al-Fitr occurs on the next day, when she takes note of the opportunity to observe the crescent new moon in the sky before the next day. Otherwise, the celebration will take place a day later.
Eid al-Fitr Celebration: What Are Their Traditions?
Also called “Aïd el-Seghir”, Aïd el-Fitr then means “little party” in French (“Fitr” means “eat, have lunch” in Arabic). Feast of Forgiveness and Peace, it can last up to three days. According to tradition, on this occasion the practitioner pays zakat (alms to the poorest), which represents the gift of the fourfold content of two folded hands. Six additional days of fasting are traditionally practiced after the “Feast of Break” Eid el-Fitr: “the six days of Chawwal,” named for the month that follows Ramadan in the “Hijri” (name of the Muslim calendar) calendar. .
But beware, celebrating Eid al-Fitr is not “just” a way to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. It also symbolizes for Muslim communities around the world, a great moment of sharing, peace and joy. Concretely, therefore, the feast of Eid el-Fitr is usually the occasion for great family meals, gifts, visits to relatives … During the celebrations, Muslims also exchange mutual wishes of “Eid Mubarak”, “Happy Eid Day”. in French. Finally, Eid al-Fitr is also called “sweet festival”. That is why she gives a high priority to desserts after morning prayers. Ftour, zlabia, gazelle horns or even chebakia, without forgetting dates stuffed with marzipan… All these foods are tasted for this festival.
Eid al-Fitr is all the more important to Muslims as it marks the end of the “holy month of Ramadan”:
Before the Eid prayer, Muslims must have given Zakat al-fitr, giving alms at the end of Ramadan. This can be donated in the form of food or money to those in need. In fact, every devout Muslim must pay alms to those in need as a sign of solidarity to validate the efforts made during Ramadan. The “Zakat al-Fitr” actually allows the needy to celebrate the Eid holiday like any Muslim without having to beg on that day. Recently, the authorities representing the Muslim faith in France have set the amount of this handout 7 euros per person. The person in charge of the family must pay them by paying them for each family member for whom they are responsible, including children and babies. So a family of 5 with 3 children, also small children, has to pay the sum of 35 euros for the end of this Ramadan to “purify” the fast.
What is Eid al-Fitr prayer?
Eid al-Fitr day is also special because of this his morning prayer that is specific. According to the specialized website Al Kanz, this morning prayer of Eid el-Fitr theoretically occurs when the sun “rises spear-length above the horizon” (about ten feet). In practice, the mosques determine the time for communal prayer themselves. Eid al-Fitr is primarily a spiritually important day. It allows you to come back to learn the lessons of this month of fasting and take stock of good or bad deeds.
How to wish Eid al-Fitr? Which birthday messages are preferable? The specialized website Assabile.com offers Muslims and non-Muslims different formulas to wish each other a happy Eid el-Fitr festival at the end of the holy fasting month of believers. Here is a selection of these reports:
- “Eid Mubarak said”
- “Eid Mubarak said may God accept your fasting and prayers”.
- “Eid Mubarak said to you and your whole family, may God bless you and fulfill your dearest wishes”.
- “Eid Mubarak, best wishes for health and happiness”.