Zakat is an integral part of the Muslim faith and, like fasting, is one of the five pillars of Islam. It’s a duty performed on a regular basis. As an opportunity to share their excess wealth with those less fortunate than themselves, Islam requires Muslims to give 2.5% of their wealth to the poor every year, which is known as Zakat Al Mal. Muslims pay it as an obligatory act of Ibadah, which is the Arabic word for worship, obedience and submission. On the 15th day of Ramadan in Qatar and the Gulf, children celebrate a traditional festival called Garangao, which is a celebration that Qatari children look forward to all year round. They go from door to door in groups, dressed in traditional costumes with large bags chanting ‘Give us something and Allah will give you. The house of Mecca, he will take you.’ Stock up on nuts, dried fruit and sweets to fill their bags and send them away happy. Some people adorn their homes with lights for Garangao, Eid Al Fitr, and Ramadan.
Eid Al Fitr Every year, Muslims look forward to two of the most important festivals of the Islamic calendar – Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. This year, Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on 2 May and Eid Al Adha on 10 July – depending on the moon sighting. Eid Al Fitr, which is also known as the Feast of Breaking the Fast, falls on the first day of the Islamic month, Shawwal, which follows the holy month of Ramadan. The joyous three-day festival is the conclusion to Ramadan. It is a time when Muslims celebrate the occasion with family and friends and give charity to those in need. Muslims begin celebrating Eid Al Fitr with prayers called 'Salat Al Eid' or 'Eid prayers'.
a remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to. The Eid or festival is also known as the Great Festival as it lasts longer than Eid Al Fitr, lasting for four days rather than three. Eid Al Adha is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar. In Muslim countries, Eid Al Adha is a public holiday where those who can afford it sacrifice a sheep (sometimes a goat, camel or a cow) as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. Once the animal is sacrificed, Muslims share the meat among family; relatives, friends, neighbours, and most importantly, the poor; each family will get a third. Some Muslims choose to donate the money which they would spend buying and sacrificing the animal to the poor or donate the animal itself to the poor in celebration of the 'Feast of Sacrifice'. Eid Al Adha is the time where millions of Muslims travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform a pilgrimage called Hajj, which is a mandatory religious duty in the Muslim faith. It is also the largest annual gathering of people in the world. Others spend Eid Al Adha with Eid prayers, dressing in their best or newest clothes, and thanking Allah for all the blessings they have received. In addition, Eid Al Adha is a time when people visit family and friends as well as offer gifts to those closest to them. Most importantly, it is obligatory to give a set amount of money or donations such as clothing to charity to help the poor or underprivileged buy new clothes and food so they can celebrate Eid Al Adha as well. It’s customary to wish people ‘Eid Mubarak’ which means ‘Blessed Eid’. m
It's a tradition to wear new clothes, send Eid greetings, feasting with families, and eat sweets, especially on the first day of Eid. Other key elements of the Eid celebrations are giving money to the poor, which is known as Zakat Al Fitr – the amount to be given depends on the possessions someone has. In Muslim countries, the entire three-day festival is an official public holiday.
Eid Al Adha Approximately 70 days after Eid Al Fitr comes Eid Al Adha, in the Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijjah. Known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid Al Adha is
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