Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak calligraphy

Eid Mubarak or (Arabic: عيد مبارك) is an Arabic term that means “Blessed Feast/festival”. The term is used by Arab Muslims, as well as Muslims all over the world. Internationally Muslims use it as a greeting for use on the festivals of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. Eid means "Celebration", and Mubarak (derived from the Semitic root B-R-K) means "Blessed". In the social sense, people usually celebrate Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan and Eid-al-Adha in the month of Dhul Hijjah (the 12th and final Islamic month). Some state that this exchange of greetings is a cultural tradition and not part of any religious obligation.

Regional variations

Throughout the Muslim world there are numerous other greetings for Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr. The companions of the Prophet Mohammad used to say to each other in Arabic when they met on Eid ul-Fitr: Taqabbalallâhu minnâ wa minkum (which means "[May] God accept from us and you [our fasts and deeds]"). Throughout the Muslim world, variations in Eid greetings exist.

Arab world

Arab Muslims use the term Eid Mubarak, and have a number of other ways to say happy holiday. Some Arabs also add "kul 'am wantum bikhair" (كل عام و أنتم بخير), which means "May you be well with every passing year". There is another common term in GCC states which is "Minal Aidin wal Faizin" (من العايدين والفايزين), an Arab sentence meaning "May we be sacred [one more time] and may we be succeed [in our fasting]", and the reply will be “Minal Maqbulin wal Ghanmin” (من المقبولين والغانمين), which means “May [our good deeds] be accepted [by God] and may we win [the paradise]”.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnian Muslims also commonly say "Bajram Šerif mubarek olsun"; the response is "Allah razi olsun". Another common Eid greeting by Bosnian Muslims is "Bajram barećula".

Serbia

In Serbia, Muslims usually celebrate by saying "Bajram Šerif Mubarek Olsun" to which the other replies with "Allah Razi Olsun"

Turkey

In Turkey, Turks wish each other happy Eid with Turkish phrases including: "Bayramınız kutlu olsun" ("May your Eid be blessed"), "İyi Bayramlar" ("Good Eid days"), and "Bayramınız mübarek olsun" ("May your Eid be blessed").

South Asia

In India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, People say Eid Mubarak wishes by shaking hands and hugging them three times followed by hand shake one more time after the Salat al Eid.

Pakistan

Pashto speakers (mainly Pashtun people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and eastern Afghanistan) also use the Eid greeting "May your festival be blessed" (Pashto: اختر دې مبارک شه ; akhtar de nekmregha sha). Balochi speakers (mainly Baloch people from Balochistan province and Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province) also use the Eid greeting "May your Eid be blessed" (عید تر مبارک با ; aied tara mubarak ba). Brahui speakers may also use the Eid greeting "Have a blessed Eid" (عید نے مبارک مارے ; aied ne mubarak mare).

Bangladesh

Many Bangladeshis may also use the phrase "Eid Mubarak" or "Eid greeting, "Eid's Greetings" (ঈদের শুভেচ্ছা; Eider Shubhechchha).

Southeast Asia

Muslims in countries such as Indonesia and the Malay language-speaking populations of Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore use the expression "Selamat Hari Raya" or "Selamat Idul Fitri" (Indonesian) or "Salam Aidilfitri" (Malay). This expression is usually accompanied by the popular expression "Minal Aidin wal Faizin", an Arab sentence meaning "May we be sacred one more time and succeed in our fasting". It is a quotation from a poem written by Shafiyuddin Al-Huli during the time Muslims ruled in Al-Andalus.

Philippines

In the Philippines, it is recognized as a legal holiday, though the Arabic greeting of Eid Mubarak has gained traction only recently. The traditional greeting of Muslims in the Philippines resembles that of the neighboring Malay-speaking world. This is namely "Salamat Hariraya Puwasa" (Selamat Hari Raya Puasa) for Eid al-Fitr, and "Salamat Hariraya Hadji" (Selamat Hari Raya Hajji) for Eid al-Adha.

West Africa

The Hausa language, originally from Northern Nigeria and Niger, is widely spoken among Muslims theoughout West Africa. Their equivalent Eid greetings in Hausa is "Barka da Sallah", which translates to "blessed Eid prayers".

In Mali, the greeting in Bambara on Eid al-Adha is "Sambe-Sambe". This greeting is similarly used by countries that have majority Mande speaking peoples, another Lingua Franca spoken by Muslims in West Africa, or were once part of the historic Mali Empire.

Ghana

"Ni ti yuun' palli" is the Eid greeting among Dagbanli and Kusaase speakers in Ghana. It means "Happy new Eid season". The Hausa greeting "Barka da Sallah" is also commonly used during the period.

Latin America

Muslims in countries in Latin America use the expression "Feliz Eid" (Spanish).

Persian speakers

Persian-speaking Muslims use the term "eid shoma mubarak"(عید شما مبارک)(happy Eid).

Albania

Muslims in Albania and Kosovo use the term ( Urime e festa fitr/ kurban bajramit).

See also

• Eid stamp