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Eid

[ eed ]

noun

  1. either of two Islamic festivals, Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Eid1

First recorded in 1695–1700; from Arabic ʿīd “festival, feast,” from Aramaic ʿed “day of assembly, feast day, festival”
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Example Sentences

Dr Eid Sabbah, Kamal Adwan Hospital's director of nursing, said the Israeli strike in Beit Lahia had completely destroyed several buildings, with "more than four, five residential blocks... razed to the ground".

From BBC

“We found zero cases of Alzheimer's among the entire adult population - it is remarkable,” Bolivian doctor Daniel Eid Rodríguez, a medical co-ordinator for the researchers, tells us.

From BBC

At the clinic where the scans take place, Dr Eid asks the elderly woman about their families as they prepare to be examined.

From BBC

“These people who reach the age of 80 were the ones who managed to survive a childhood full of diseases and infections,” says Dr Eid.

From BBC

Dr Eid says the use of boats with an outboard motor - known as peque-peque - is also bringing change.

From BBC

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More About Eid

What is Eid?

Eid is a short name for two different major Islamic festivals that occur at different times—Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Both are commonly referred to as Eid for short, and the greeting Eid Mubarak (roughly meaning “Happy Eid” or “Blessed Eid”) can be used for both.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day.

Eid al-fitr begins the day after Ramadan ends. Its name means “festival of the breaking of the fast.” It is traditionally marked with a special meal—which for many Muslims is the first daytime meal they’ve eaten in a month.

Along with the Eid al-Fitr feast, many Muslims observe the day by getting dressed up, decorating their homes, gathering with family and friends, attending services at their mosque, and making charitable donations.

Eid al-Fitr is sometimes spelled Eid-ul-Fitr.

Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is a four-day festival that commemorates the story of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s)  willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael (Ishmael) when Allah commanded him to. When Ibrahim showed that he would obey, Allah provided a sheep for Ibrahim to sacrifice instead.

For this reason, Eid al-Adha traditionally involves sacrificing a sheep or goat. The meat is then divided among family, friends, and those in need.

Many Muslims observe the festival by dressing up, attending services at their mosque, gathering with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and making charitable donations.

Eid al-Adha occurs on the last day of Hajj, a pilgrimage that Muslims are obligated to undertake once in their lives.

Eid al-Adha can also be spelled ʾId al-Adha or Eid-ul-Adha. It is sometimes called Big Eid, the Festival of Sacrifice, and the Great Festival.

When is Eid?

The two different festivals sometimes referred to as Eid occur at different times of the year. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the dates of these feasts vary from year to year.

Eid al-Fitr

In 2024, Eid al-Fitr will be observed on April 10 (officially beginning on the evening of April 9). In 2025, it will officially begin on the evening of March 30 and be observed on March 31.

Eid al-Fitr takes place every year on the day after Ramadan ends, which is the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha 

In 2024, Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of June 16 and end on the evening of June 20. In 2025, Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of June 6 and end on the evening of June 10.

Eid al-Adha always begins on the tenth day of Dhu ʾl-hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar.

More information and context on Eid

The first records of the word Eid come from around the 1600s. Eid comes from the Arabic ʿīd, meaning “festival, feast,” from the Aramaic ʿed, meaning “day of assembly,” “feast day,” or “festival.”

The name Eid al-Fitr comes from the Arabic ʿīd al-fiṭr, which means “festival of the breaking of the fast.”

The name Eid al-Adha comes from the Arabic ʿīd al-aḍḥā, meaning “festival of sacrifice.”

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Eid?

How is Eid discussed in real life?

Eid can refer to either Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha. The greeting Eid Mubarak can be used for both.

Try using Eid!

True or False?

The two festivals known as Eid occur in the same month.

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