People across the globe said goodbye to the sacred month of Ramadan and marked the celebration of Eid al-Fitr on Sunday.
Each year, Eid arrives with joy and enthusiasm as Muslims celebrate through communal prayers followed by various activities such as visiting family members, attending gatherings, and wearing new outfits.
On Sunday, thousands of Palestinians convened at the al-Aqsa Mosque complex within the Old City of Jerusalem for Eid al-Fitr prayers.
In Serbia, the Islamic community conducted its main Eid celebration at the Arab Mosque in Novi Pazar, including collective prayer sessions to mark the event.
In Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, Muslims came together for prayers in open-air areas. Families dressed up in their new outfits and paid visits to relatives, merging customs with contemporary celebrations.
At the same time, in Islam’s most sacred city of Mecca, countless pilgrims and residents gathered for collective prayers at the Grand Mosque, highlighting the deeply religious essence of the festivities.
In other parts of the Middle East, Syrians mark their first Eid al-Fitr celebration since ending over five decades under the rule of the Assad dynasty.
Similar to Ramadan and other Islamic traditions, the scheduling of Muslim months and celebrations typically relies on the lunar calendar, particularly the appearance of the Crescent Moon after the New Moon phase.
Across numerous regions globally, specialized groups of observers meticulously examine the heavens using telescopes and binoculars, striving to get a sight of the faint crescent moon.
The celebration of Eid al-Fitr has been marred by conflict.
For many Muslims, this year’s Eid did not bring joy due to their communities being devastated by conflict.
The residents of the Gaza Strip are marking their second Eid al-Fitr celebration since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
On Sunday, they found little reason to rejoice, observing the usual joyous occasion amid increasingly scarce food reserves and with no resolution to the ongoing strife in view.
Overnight attacks carried out by Israel on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 19 individuals, primarily women and children, as reported by officials from the health ministry controlled by Hamas in Gaza.
This month, Israel abruptly ended its truce with Hamas, leading to numerous airstrikes that resulted in hundreds of casualties within the Gaza Strip. Concurrently, deliveries of essential items such as food, fuel, and medical supplies have ceased.
It is an Eid filled with sorrow,” remarked Adel al-Shaer following his participation in open-air prayers at the town of Deir al-Balah. “Our dear ones, our offspring, our very existence, and hopes for tomorrow have been taken from us. Our students, educational facilities, and establishments—all these we’ve lost.