Muslims in Barbados joined their counterparts throughout the world on Saturday in celebration of the Muslim festival Eid Al Fitr observed on the day after the Ramadan month of fasting ends.
The start of the holiday is traditionally based on sightings of the new moon, which may vary according to geographic location.
The celebration, which follows a similar format to the Christian festival of Christmas, saw an estimated 600 to 700 Muslims from the four mosques across Barbados, gather on a playing field at Passage Road, St Michael near the Al Falah School, for prayers at 7 a.m.
Principal of the Al Falah School Ibrahim Bhana said the day of Eid began with the prayer session at Passage Road after which the Muslims paid a visit to the Westbury cemetery “to remember those who have left us and pray for them”.
Bhana added the Muslims also visited family and friends as well as people in their neighbourhoods and communities and shared sweets baked by the women in Muslim households.
He explained Fitr means “a donation or contribution towards the less fortunate” and said it was recommended this was done “even before the day of prayer, so that those who are less fortunate can still celebrate Eid”.
“What we do is in the community, those who may need clothes to wear for EID or who will need some food hampers, we will do that before today so that on the day of EID everyone will be joyful and happy and nobody is left out,” Bhana said.
In her message to mark the festival Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley reminded the muslims that their faith “charges you with the responsibility of breaking down the barriers between the affluent and the poor as well as between the believer and the sinner”. (GC)