In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Foundation (STBHF) wishes to extend its heartfelt felicitations to all Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is one of the two major festivals Muslims celebrate, the other being Eid al-Adha. It means the festival of breaking the fast, which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, prayer, and charity.
This auspicious day brings all Muslims together in celebration of the common values that unite us; the spirit of sharing and compassion. It is also an occasion that helps us to remember the unity, dynamism and the ideals of peace and harmony on which the Islamic Ummah is built.
Eid al-Fitr was originated by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who received the first revelation of the Quran during Ramadan. He established Eid al-Fitr as a day of gratitude to Allah (God) for giving Muslims the strength and patience to complete their fast. He also encouraged Muslims to forgive and reconcile with each other today.
Eid al-Fitr is a time of joy, gratitude, and care for Muslims worldwide. It offers an opportunity to express thankfulness to Allah for His blessings, and to share these blessings with family, friends, and the wider community. It is a period to reflect on spiritual growth during Ramadan and to integrate those lessons into daily life.
The festival encourages celebrating shared faith and values while embracing our differences and promoting forgiveness, peace, and goodwill. Eid al-Fitr is a festival of joy and gratitude for Muslims. It is also a festival of sharing and caring for others. There are some standard practices and traditions that Muslims follow during Eid al-Fitr, such as:
1). Performing the Eid prayer in the morning, preferably in a large congregation at an open area or mosque, followed by a sermon and supplication.
2). Giving charity (Zakat al-Fitr or Sadaqah al-Fitr) to the poor and needy before or after the Eid prayer to purify Ramadan fasts and help the less fortunate.
3). Visiting family and friends, exchanging greetings like “Eid Mubarak” and “Taqabbalallahu minna wa minkum”, and giving gifts to children, relatives, and loved ones.
4). Wear new or clean clothes, apply perfume, and look your best.
5). Enjoying a festive meal with family and friends, including various cultural dishes and snacks.
Eid al-Fitr is not only a festival of commonality but also a festival of diversity and creativity for Muslims. Muslims celebrate this event differently according to their local customs, cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Some examples of the variety and creativity of Eid al-Fitr are:
1). Beautifying homes with decorations like lights, candles, lanterns, and banners. Muslims create a festive atmosphere for Eid-al-Fitr, incorporating various colours, patterns, and symbols in their décor.
2). Engaging in fun activities with children and adults, such as playing games, visiting amusement parks or museums, and organising competitions or contests.
3). Listening to music, singing songs or nasheeds (Islamic songs), and reciting poems or stories related to Eid-al-Fitr.
4). Reaching out to distant relatives or friends through cards, messages, phone calls, or video chats to stay connected and share Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
Eid al-Fitr is a festival that depends on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the beginning of a new month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Therefore, the date of Eid al-Fitr varies from year to year and place to place.
Eid al-Fitr is usually celebrated for three days, one day less than Eid al-Adha, the other major Islamic festival. However, some Muslims may extend their celebrations for longer or shorter periods depending on their local customs and traditions. The festival is a public holiday in many Muslim-majority countries and some non-Muslim countries with a significant Muslim population. It is not a public holiday in some non-Muslim countries.
Eid al-Fitr is also a time of festivities and fun for Muslims. They may attend carnivals, fairs, concerts, shows, etc., organised by their local communities or mosques. Muslims may also watch fireworks or lanterns that light up the night sky. They may also exchange greetings and wishes with their neighbours and citizens of different faiths and backgrounds.
As Muslims around the world observe this year’s Eid, today 20th March, 2026 the Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Foundation (STBHF) is once again gravely alarmed by another violent and unstopped attacks against Qatar, which are carried out on a daily basis by the Iranian Armed forces. STBHF condemns in the strongest terms these brazen attacks, which come while our Muslim brothers and sisters are observing the holy month of Ramadan.
Right from the word go when the crisis in the Middle-east began, the STBHF has repeatedly condemned any military escalation in this conflict, including ongoing attacks on territory of Qatar and other Arab Gulf States. There is just no moral argument to justify these attacks on Qatar and its neighbours.
These attacks are not only an aggression on sovereignty, but are a direct assault against the basic principles of International Law.
And as residents face the challenges brought about by the disruption of economic activities in the Middle-east, the attacks on Qatar and other Arab Gulf States further heighten fear, distress and sense of insecurity among citizens of those countries.
As we mark the end of a month-long journey of reflection, prayer and fasting, may Allah continue to instil in the Ummah the virtues of generosity and compassion for others. This joyous occasion of celebrating personal sacrifice and unity is made more relevant as the global community condemns Iran’s attacks on Qatar and other Arab Gulf States.
May this event of Eid-al-Fitr unite all humanity in a common bond of understanding and inspire all to work tirelessly towards building a peaceful and harmonious relationship among nations of the world.
Eid Mubarak!
Signed: Madam Zainab Sankoh
Chief Executive Director
The Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Foundation
STBHF
