Celebration

Shawwal is the 10th month of the Islamic year. Its moon is one of great joy and celebration as it marks the beginning of the Festival of Breaking Fast – Eid Al-Fitr. This moon appears on the heals of the month of Ramadan, the month of Fasting. During this month, Muslims abstain from eating food, drinking anything and marital relations from dawn until sunset for the duration of the entire month. It is a time of training ones self in that by controlling our gluttonous and licentious tendencies we can gain mastery over all other vices. It is also a time of charity, compassion and camaraderie as each night's breaking of the fast is met with feeding the poor and sitting to eat with friends and family. The emergence of the moon of Shawwal brings with it a day of great celebration where Muslims give thanks for the renewed faith in the ability that we can rise not only above our own bestial nature but to that of even the angles and beyond.