Why many Muslims no longer call Eid Al Fitr Eid Al-Fitr anymore, HAPPY CELEBRATION TO ALL MUSLIMS. On Monday, Muslims celebrate Eid Al Fitr, after a month-long fast from dawn to dusk. In the Netherlands, the holiday is mainly known as Eid al-Fitr, but a growing number of Muslims prefer not to use that name anymore. Here’s why.
Every year, Muslims worldwide end the month of Ramadan with a religious festival, Eid Al Fitr. In Islamic countries, the end of the month of fasting is even celebrated for three days.
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‘Eid al-Fitr’ is a literal translation of the Turkish Şeker Bayramı. Centuries ago, the festival was called ‘Şükür Bayramı’ (festival of gratitude) by Ottoman Muslims, because the end of Ramadan was seen as a moment for gratitude to Allah. A reading error would have ensured that the holiday in the Netherlands has been known as Eid al-Fitr for years now.
Meanwhile, more and more Dutch Muslims are pleading for the holiday to no longer be called ‘Eid al-Fitr’. There are several reasons for this:
1. First of all, the translation is not correct. Eid Al Fitr literally means ‘feast of breaking the fast’.
2. In addition, the word ‘Eid al-Fitr’ implies that the day is mainly dominated by food, while it is about much more. Easter is also not called an ‘egg festival’, nor is Christmas a ‘tree festival’, but it has a greater meaning.
Eid Al Fitr is one of the most important religious days for Muslims. Of course, delicacies are part of it, but there is more. Often the day starts with morning prayer, in the mosque or at home.
Muslims wear their finest clothes, often bought especially for the occasion, and greet each other with the words ‘Eid Mubarak’ (‘a blessed feast’). They donate money to charity, visit family and friends and give each other presents.
3. Finally, the name ‘Eid al-Fitr’ would encourage the consumption of sweets, while a growing group of Muslims think that there should be more attention for healthy food. Certainly because Dutch people with, for example, a Turkish or Moroccan background are more likely to have diabetes than people without a migration background.
Why many Muslims no longer call Eid Al Fitr Eid Al-Fitr anymore
The Muslims and Government Contact Body does not use the term ‘Eid al-Fitr’ at all, CMO chairman Muhsin Köktas reports to Us. This organization is a partnership of more than 380 mosques and ten mosque domes. According to him, ‘Eid al-Fitr’ is only in use in the Netherlands and Turkey.
The term only comes into play at the CMO when it comes to clarifying to outsiders what the festival at the end of Ramadan entails.
The organization does not have hard figures about complaints about the term ‘Eid’, but does see disapproving reactions on social media: “They would like the name not to be used.”
NU.nl still mentions the word ‘Eid’ in headlines and leads of the messages, but in quotation marks and in combination with Eid Al Fitr.
We do this because of the recognizability. Not every Dutchman will already know Eid Al Fitr as the festival at the end of Ramadan. In this we follow the social developments. When Eid Al Fitr becomes established, we stop mentioning both names.
If you want to wish Muslims a good day, you say ‘Eid Mubarak’ or ‘happy holiday’. So there is no special term for that.
Why many Muslims no longer call Eid Al Fitr Eid Al-Fitr anymore
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