Ramadan 2023 concludes: Eid Mubarak Said!
Present in mosques in every country, the holy month for the Muslim world that began on 23 March ended on Friday with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. The global observance of fasting has continued to grow over the last century, with the exception of the year 2020 due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. This increase is due to the fact that the Muslim religion represents about 25% of the global population, which is a challenge year after year for the community, especially considering the influx of believers who wish to visit the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam.
Always subject to the lunar cycle, the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, meaning 'the feast of the breaking of the fast', marks the end of the fast. It is also one of the most special days for Muslims, because it not only marks the end of Ramadan, but also the beginning of the month of Shawwal. This month gives rise to one of the greatest rewards for which a follower of the Muslim faith is eligible. "Anyone who fasts in Ramadan and continues the fast with six days in Shawwal will be as if he had fasted all his life," as testified in one of Allah's 40 Hadith to the Prophet Muhammad.
For a proper celebration of the last day of the holy fast, the men wear a white garment symbolising purity and the women wear braided hairstyles and perfume. During the celebration it is common for the whole family to get together, children receive gifts and adults receive gifts of sweets from their relatives as a symbol of love and brotherhood. Also, as a representation of Muslim good faith, the fasting practitioners make the donation to charity popularly known as Zakat al-Fitr.
Due to the influence and importance that the Muslim religion is gaining across the globe, it is not uncommon to see cities around the world whose predominant tradition or religion is a different one increasingly opening their doors to facilities of all kinds as a sign of harmony. This year, legendary football stadiums such as La Bombonera (Buenos Aires) or Wembley, in London, have offered totally free sessions where believers have come to perform their prayers.
Meanwhile, the Saudi news agency SPA, using satellite photos and estimates of flights and hotel occupancy, provided data on attendance at the Great Mosque of Mecca, Islam's holiest site: more than 22 million worshippers in the first 20 days and an average of 1 million in the last ten days. According to SPA, through Abdulrahman al-Sudais, general president of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Affairs, at least 32 million people came to the holy city of Mecca to worship at the Kaaba, through prayers and supplications in search of God's forgiveness.
According to the Arab media outlet Ain, the SPA news agency was able to obtain images that were used to help count the number of attendees, thanks to the aviation department of the Presidency and State Security, which allowed the agency's journalists and photographers to fly overhead. Due to the large number of visitors over the past few days, the corridors leading to the various courtyards of the compound were gradually being opened to accommodate all the worshippers who had been encouraged to attend. Finally, Al-Sudais confirmed that the organisation of the mosque had been perfect and adequate to guarantee the availability of the pilgrims.