TRANSCRIPT
All around the world, Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr [[eed-al-FITR]] as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end.
With over 800,000 Muslims in Australia and over 2 billion worldwide, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated in a variety of ways but often involves prayer, feasting, and giving to charity.
In the Malaysian village of Kampung Talang, the familiar sound of cannon firing marks the beginning of festivities.
37-year-old Amar Ehzan says without the cannons, Eid al-Fitr does not feel complete.
BAHASA MALAYSIA THEN ENGLISH VO*:“The Kampung Talang cannon firing tradition can be dated back to 1937. Long ago, the origin of this cannon was passed down through stories from our ancestors. This village is located in a forested area, and back then, there were many wild animals around. So, when people wanted to go out to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, they were afraid and wanted to keep the wild animals from coming into the village. To do this, they would fire the cannon on the eve of Eid al-Fitr to scare the animals back into the forest. Since then, it has become a tradition in the village, continuing until today.”
Eid al-Fitr starts at the end of Ramadan, and, like Easter, the festival does not have a fixed date.
Islam follows a lunar calendar, so the sighting of a new moon determines the start of each month.
Globally, there are different methods for calculating when Eid should be celebrated and Eid can be celebrated across two days by different cultural groups.
In Nigeria, 19-year-old Aisha Sanni says she has mixed feelings following the end of the Holy month.
"Ramadan is very, very good. I feel so much happy but at the same time, I feel so much sad because there are so many goodness in Ramadan, so many blessings. You can't even count the blessings Allah has sent in this holy month of Ramadan, I feel so sad this is going because no matter what you beg for in this holy month of Ramadan, Allah is always there to answer your prayers for you."
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated over three days and traditionally begins with a prayer service, followed by a sermon.
At the start of the prayer, Muslims pay Zakat al-Fitr, a donation for those in need.
In the republics of Ingushetia and Chechnya in the North Caucasus, local mosques hosted the celebrations.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov attended prayers in his home village, thanking worshippers for their generosity during Ramadan.
CHECHEN THEN ENGLISH VO*:“Congratulations to all on the end of the holy fast. May the Almighty reward the believers for their diligence in worship. In the month of Ramadan, we provided assistance not only to the needy residents of our republic, but also far beyond its borders, including in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian refugees in Egypt. We opened two new mosques.”
In Afghanistan, Muslims gathered at mosques across the country.
In the capital Kabul, resident Muhammad Samer says he is praying for an end to the suffering of the Palestinians.
DARI THEN ENGLISH VO*:"My best wishes for the people of Palestine, I pray that this Eid brings them good fortune and happiness. Muslims in Gaza are facing a lot of injustice, may God have mercy on their situation. I hope that all Islamic countries will celebrate Eid with peace and happiness. I hope that Afghans will be united."
In Qatar, thousands of worshippers have gathered at a football stadium to attend Eid al-Fitr prayers.
Qatari resident Ibrahim Khalil Khan says he hopes Muslims around the world are blessed with peace.
"This is a beautiful place, 'Mashallah' I have been living in Qatar for almost 2 decades, the festival of Eid is very beautiful, we always pray that such a beautiful experience and such a livelihood and brotherhood should prevail all across the world. Especially for the brothers and sisters of Palestine, Syria, Sudan, India and wherever people are in trouble. We all pray to God that they all be blessed with faith, peace and blessing all across the world. Thank you."
While Eid al-Fitr is considered a time for celebration, for many, the festival comes amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, hundreds have gathered at a stadium in Bukavu to mark Eid al-Fitr, despite the areas ongoing occupation by Rwandan-backed rebel forces.
Because of intensifying violence in eastern D-R-C, many Muslims across the area have been compelled to modify their religious customs such as shifting to earlier prayer times.
Bukavu resident Bi Mariam Balanga says she is grateful to be able to celebrate with others.
SWAHILI THEN ENGLISH VO*:"I thank God because despite the insecurity in the city, He helped me find something to share with others. In any case, thank God very much. This Eid was difficult because life is expensive due to the situation we are currently going through. But thanks to God, we finished in peace and we will still celebrate in tranquility, In shaa Allah."
Meanwhile in Sudan, worshippers rejoiced, celebrating the festival just days after the army started to regain control of the capital Khartoum from the rival Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group.
The war in Sudan, which has killed at least 28,000 people and displaced millions, has destroyed cities throughout the country.
As prayers echoed through a mosque still scarred with bullet holes, local Salah Mokhtar says there is much to celebrate this Eid al-Fitr.
ARABIC THEN ENGLISH VO*: "This year, Eid came in an exceptional way — especially after two years of war and after the liberation of Khartoum, thanks to God. These circumstances are faced by everyone in Khartoum State, as we are not in our primary homes, our actual houses."
At Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, nearly 120,000 worshipers attended prayer on Sunday [[March 30]], according to officials of the site.
In Gaza, Israel's relentless attacks and ongoing blockade of humanitarian supplies means many have little to celebrate.
In Jabalia, Inshirah Hanouneh is spending the first day of Eid al-Fitr visiting her brothers grave.
ARABIC THEN ENGLISH VO*:“I came to visit my brother on the first day of the happy Eid al-Fitr, it is happy for people, but not for me, it is not happy, it is not Eid. God imposed it on us, what can we do? The memory of my brother is in my heart everyday, he did not leave my memory for a second since 17 December.”
Back in Australia, members of the Muslim community in Sydney are gathering for prayers and celebrations at the Omar Mosque in Auburn.
Sheikh Ahmed Kasem is the Imam of Omar Mosque.
He says Eid al-Fitr is about the community coming together.
"So where Muslim community, members of the Muslim community come together to share meals, exchange gifts, strengthen bonds with the loved ones. Today is a spiritual renewal and community unity."
He says while there is of course a lot of joy in the community, it is impossible not to feel the suffering of those in Gaza.
"This Eid is not, this Ramadan is not different, because the current situation in Gaza is still going on, and the children of Gaza are still suffering and will feel for them. Whatever hurts them, hurt us too. And this is why the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, said, he said, We are brothers. We are like one body. When one part of the body aches, the whole body responds to it with, you know, wakefulness and fever as well."
