Muslims in Kerala are set to celebrate Id-ul-Fitr on Friday (March 20), marking the conclusion of the month-long fasting observed during Ramzan. Islamic judges, known as Kazis across the State, confirmed the festival following the sighting of the new moon of the Islamic month of Shawwal after the Iftar on Thursday (March 19), the 29th day of Ramzan.

Known as the ‘festival of breaking the fast’, Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated as a time of gratitude, prayer, and community spirit. Special Id prayers will be offered on Friday morning in mosques and open grounds known as Id Gahs.

While traditional Muslim groups will attend prayers in mosques, reformist groups such as the Mujahids or Salafis and Jamaat-e-Islami prefer Id Gahs, where women and children also participate in the congregational prayers.

On Thursday night, people were seen distributing bagfuls of rice as Zakat-ul-Fitr, the obligatory charity at the end of Ramzan.

Unlike regular Zakat (charity), Zakat-ul-Fitr is intended as immediate relief to meet the needs of the poor in the Muslim community on Id day. According to scholars, this form of charity is obligatory for every Muslim, regardless of age, gender or wealth.

This time, the celebrations in Kerala will coincide with those in the West Asian Arab countries, where lakhs of Keralites are working. However, the restrictions imposed by some of the Gulf countries on mass gatherings and outdoor celebrations due to the ongoing Iran war in the region have taken the sheen off the festival in the Gulf.

In his Id message, Madin Academy chairman and Kerala Muslim Jamaat general secretary Syed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari described the festival as a spiritual victory after a month of fasting, patience and sacrifice. He called upon the people to stand by those facing hardships.