POLOKWANE – If you have Muslim colleagues, you probably won’t see them at work today as Muslims around South Africa and the world celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.

The timing of Eid, or “the festival of breaking the fast”, begins with the first sighting of the new moon, and it often varies from country to country. It also marks the end of Ramadan.

Read more: All you need to know about Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the holy Quran to Muhammad, according to Islamic belief. While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations.

Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying,) and fighting.

However, Eid is a time for family and friends and the day often begins with a special early morning prayer in mosques and open-air spaces and later moves to feasts and festivals.

Eid gifts, known as Eidi, are frequently given to children and immediate relatives in the form of money or actual gifts. Most people wear new clothes with bright colours, while biscuits, cakes, samosas, pies and tarts are presented to visitors as treats.

As an obligatory act of charity, money is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the ‘Eid prayer in an act known as Zakat.

If you would like to wish your Muslim friends, you simply have to say Eid Mubarak (Eeed-moo-bar-rack).

Review would like to wish all our Muslim readers a blessed Eid Mubarak.