This year, Tajikistan will celebrate Idi Ramazon or Eid al-Fitr on April 10.

An official source within the Shuroi Ulamo (Council of Ulema – Tajikistan’s highest Islamic institution) of the Islamic Center of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus that such a decision was made at a meeting of the Shuroi Ulamo that took place on April 4.     

This year, the holy month of Ramadan started on March 11. 

A person who could not keep fast during the holy month of Ramadan must donate 420.00 somonis (41.00 per each day of the month). 

This year, the Shuroi Ulamo has set the contribution for zakat for Muslims having annual income of no less than 35,275 somonis (TJS) at TJS800.00 somonis and Sadaqa al-Fitr at 7.00 somonis per person.   

The main purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to provide the poor which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (Eid al-Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.

Sadaqa al-Fitr is charity given to the poor at the end of the fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.  Sadaqa al-Fitr is a duty which is wajib (required) of every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.

The amount of Sadaqa al-Fitr is the same for everyone regardless of their different income brackets.  The minimum amount is one sa`a (four double handfuls) of food, grain or dried fruit for each member of the family.  According to the majority of Sunni scholars One Sa'a is approximately between 2.6 kg to 3 kg.  Cash equivalent (of the food weight) may also be given if food collection and distribution is unavailable in  

This year, festive prayer on the occasion of the end of the holy month of Ramadan will be performed at all mosques of the country at 6:30 am.

Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.  Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fitr means “to purify”; and so the holiday symbolizes the purification after completing the fasting month, which is after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.

Eid al-Fitr is one of the major religious holidays that followers of Islam have been observing for centuries.  By closing the holy month of Ramadan, it carries a deep moral meaning, encapsulates the joy of renewal, commitment to self-improvement, readiness to do good and help the needy.

Eid al-Fitr lasts for one day of celebrations and is sometimes also known as the “Smaller Eid": as compared to the Eid al-Adha that lasts three days following the Hajj and is casually referred to as the “Greater Eid.”

On this day, Muslims attend the special Eid prayer (salah).  An obligatory charity is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the ‘Eid prayer by all those adult Muslims who are required to pay Zakat.  Eid prayer is performed in congregation in open areas like fields, squares or at mosques.

After the prayers, people visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances. Gifts are frequently given; it is common for children to be given small sums of money by adult relatives or friends.  It is also common for children to salam parents and adult relatives; they usually get sweeties or money from the adult relatives or friends.