The end of Ramadan
When the sun sets on Friday night, it will announce the end of Ramadan.
While the fasting will be over, it will be the first day of the month of Shawwaal and the Muslims will celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.
The festival emphasises the values leaned during the month of Ramadaan, such as gratitude, respect, generosity, humility and thankfulness.
Bakerton resident Aboo Seedat says the cherished spirituality of the days spent in fasting and nights spent in prayer and supplication are contained in
the advice of the Prophet Muhammad to spend some portion of the night before the festival in meditation and prayer, devotion and praise.
This will also announce the beginning of the season of Hajj (pilgrimage).
Muslim homes will be busy with preparations for the next family get-together for breakfast, lunch or supper.
The sanctity of Eid-al-Fitr is enhanced in that the two Eids, which are festivals, and the festival of sacrifice which comes during the period of Hajj, have an additional Eid prayer (Salaat) sanctioned for the day.
This is over and above the normal five daily prayers.
Aboo says the prayer is held a few hours after sunrise and usually held in the Mosque or at the grounds of the Springs Muslim School.
The prayer is followed by a lecture (Khutba) by an Imam (leader) wherein the emphasis is to carry forward the values acquired in Ramadan through the coming year.
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