Local Muslims celebrated the Islamic holiday Eid-ul-Fitr Thursday, marking the end of Ramadan and carrying a universal message of unity.

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shaw’waal, at the completion of Ramadan, said junior accountancy major Mahvish Hussain, a representative of the Muslim Student Association. Shaw’waal is the tenth month on the Islamic calendar.

Eid marks the end of Ramadan and is announced after the moon sighting by the mosque, Hussain said.

The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad with friends and relatives after the victory of the Battle of Badr, Hussain said.

Eid-ul-Fitr in Arabic means “the feast of breaking the fast,” said Mohamed Kandil, a senior mechanical engineering major and co-president of MSA.

The celebration starts with a dawn prayer, for “it is a tradition of Prophet Muhammad to eat a date, symbolizing that there will not be another day of fasting,” Kandil said.

This is followed by a chant praising God, Mohammed and his companions and a prayer then is offered followed by a sermon, he said. After the sermon, people visit, share meals and exchange gifts.

“For Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr is a joyful celebration of the achievement of enhanced piety,” Hussain said. “It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking God for the help and strength that he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.”

On the day of Eid, it is mandatory for men to pray a two rakah prayer at the mosque, Hussain said. The Eid prayer is followed by the sermon and then a prayer asking for forgiveness, mercy and help for the plight of Muslims across the world, she said. It is then customary to embrace the persons sitting on either side of you as well as your relatives, friends and acquaintances, she said.

Hussain said she usually celebrates Eid by visiting with family and friends after Eid prayers and exchanging gifts.

Hiba Abdallah, a senior finance major and MSA co-president, said she celebrated Eid by exchanging gifts with friends and family. Her family, which is overseas, also celebrated Eid with gifts and the sacrifice of a lamb. The sacrificing of the lamb is common overseas, she said. The meat is divided among poor families.

“It is not only a celebration, but also a reunion of families and relatives,” Hussain said. “It gives you a chance to express your love and care to your family and friends.”