Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after the month-long fast of Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk.

The month of Ramadan is also a period of prayer and reflection. The president of the Muslim Judicial Council Sheikh Riad Fataar says, “What the Muslim Judicial Council confirm tonight is a collaborative. Working together with what is called the Ulama council of SA, we have a hilaal, a moon sighting group where people go out into various parts of SA to see if they can sight the moon. So in Cape Town as you can see, it’s overcast, in other places in the country it’s overcast. However, Alhamdulillah (praise be to God) in Musina and all these places the moon was sighted.”

Muslim worshipers say that while they will be celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr today, their thoughts are still with the plight of the Palestinians.

Worshipers gathered in Sea Point in Cape Town last night for the sighting of the moon, which heralds the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The day will be observed with early morning prayers, acts of charity such as feeding the needy, and visiting family members, as well as the graves of loved ones.

Worshipers are calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. “We are going to enjoy Eid in SA, but the people in Palestine are not going to enjoy it the way we are going to enjoy it, but all that we can say is sabar (patience and submission to Allah's decree) and contentment in the hearts of those people in Gaza.”

“It’s wonderful to see how the people of SA come together, especially around the brothers and sisters of Islam come together and who bring us some sort of comfort and belonging in seeing that.”

Meanwhile, the SA National Zakah Fund on the Cape Flats was giving food to needy families during Ramadan, preparing to ensure that thousands of needy families have a meal to celebrate Eid.

--SABC--