Eid 2022 in South Africa: Eid al Fitr date, meaning, significance

Eid al Fitr, commonly referred to as Eid, is among the most important Islamic festivals and marks the end of Ramadan, Islam's holy month. The festival's name essentially means the 'festival of breaking the fast.' After a month of fasting, connecting with Allah, dedication, and sacrifice, Muslims worldwide come together in Eid to celebrate the blessings of Allah. What date will Eid 2022 in South Africa be held, and how is it usually celebrated?

Globally, Eid depends on the moon's sighting, meaning there are often variations in the specific date depending on one's location. This also explains why in some places, the announcement of the exact date does not happen until the start of the holy month. When is Eid in South Africa in 2022?

When is Eid 2022 in South Africa?

Eid Mubarak 2022 in South Africa will be celebrated from the evening of Monday, May 2, to the evening of Tuesday, May 3. This corresponds with many other countries in the same geographical region.

How will Eid 2022 in South Africa be celebrated?

Various aspects of the Islamic religion surround Eid and its related celebrations. The most important is that the festival marks the end of fasting (known as sawm in Islam), one of the religion's five pillars. A common belief is that fasting furnishes one's prosperity, enhances peace, and brings back any lost harmony.

How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated? Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan in various ways. Here is a look at the most common.

Eid al Fitr prayers

Prayers conducted in Eid are known as Salaat al-Eid and can be conducted at home or with other congregants at a mosque. During these prayers, the Muslims dress up and conduct a pre-dawn prayer known as Salaat al-Fajr.

The Salaat al-Eid is only conducted two times a year. This means that those praying at mosques are guided by the Iman on how to perform the prayer. Unlike other mandatory Islam prayers, there is no call to prayer for the Salaat al-Eid. Typically, a sermon follows these prayers and touches on attributes such as forgiveness, peace, and mercy.

Wearing new clothes

The festival of breaking the fast is generally considered a happy event. This is why many Muslims choose to wear new clothes on the day. This is a long-running tradition that began with the Prophet Mohammed.

Still, wearing new clothes is not a rule, and one can choose to wear their regular clothes during the day.

Lavish feasts

This is perhaps one of the best-known aspects of Eid al Fitr. On this special festival, Muslims gather to delight themselves in the best meals from their culture. The specific foods that constitute the feast vary from one country to another. Some of the most common ones include seviyan, kebabs, biryani, nihari, and Haleem.

Gifting and giving

These activities revolve around the Islamic doctrine of Zakat al-Fitr, which loosely translates to giving to the poor. Typically, the money one gives depends on what they have. The richer give more than the poor. This practice is also closely related to eidiyah, which is basically gifting children money, sweets, and other items.

Like wearing new clothes, eidiyah is not mandatory but rather a good custom meant to uphold good ties with others and show kindness. Besides giving and gifting, some Muslims often volunteer to work in various places as a show of kindness.

Eid al-Fitr greetings

One of the most common Islamic phrases during Eid is 'Eid Mubarak.' Muslims use this phrase to greet each other during the festivals. The phrase loosely translates to 'blessed celebration' or 'blessed feast.' When one is greeted as such, the appropriate reply is 'Khair Mubarak,' which is basically wishing the other person goodwill.

Eid in South Africa

Muslims make up about 3% of South Africa's population of nearly 60 million. Muslims have lived in South Africa for hundreds of years and have several mosques and heritage sites across the country. The largest Muslim population in South Africa is in the Western Cape region.

The Muslim community in South Africa is largely linked to the 17th and 18th-century slave trade that saw people from the Dutch East Indies to Cape Town. Like other Muslim communities across the world, those in South Africa celebrate Eid by giving and gifting, feasting, and praying.

When did Eid al-Fitr begin?

The very first Eid al Fitr festival was observed in 624 CE by Prophet Muhammad and his companions. This celebration came after the Prophet's victory during the famous battle of Jang-e-Badar.

Eid 2022 in South Africa will be celebrated on May 3, like in many other parts of the world. This festival is among the essential ones in the Islam world since it signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The various ways Eid is celebrated globally highlights its importance in Islam.

READ ALSO: Why is the Ethiopian calendar 7 years behind?

We recently published an article explaining why the Ethiopian calendar is seven years behind the universal calendar. This difference has always been a point of interest for many people seeking to know the seven-year difference's history, meaning, and implications.

The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months and is largely connected to the country's main religion and church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The organization has about 36 million members. Other churches that follow the Ethiopian calendar include the Eastern Catholic Church and the Eastern Protestant Christian Pentay.

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