When does Eid Ul Fitr fall? The joyous three-day festival, Eid Ul-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking), which begins after the sighting of a new crescent moon, marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, during which devout Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. Eid Ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month after Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a ...

Syrian Sins by the Regime escalate this Ramadan Ramadan time and Syrians are calling for the blood of their leader- as the regime’s bloody campaign has reached fever pitch. Peace, calm, patience and forgiveness typically associated with the month, would have to be in a different planet. Calls for freedom and an end to oppression have been met with crushing and bombing by the military forces or security apparatus and government thugs- gunmen known as "shabiha". Targeting mosques, schools and hospitals are all part of a systematic crackdown on anti-government ...

How Green Square became Martyr Square As preparations for a post-Gaddafi era are underway, by a just-about triumphant opposition movement, and as celebrations by the Libyan Diaspora are upon us, we find that the 6-month journey to Tripoli has been a long one, full of setbacks, false-hopes, false-starts, and even now false-finishes! Saif al-Islam, declared captured by the Opposition, is now back out on the streets manically ranting about the fight not being over and expressing his disdain for the barely ripened National Transitional Council, showing impunity and delusion, while ...

A glimpse at Ramadan around the globe in all its radiance and glory. But also a visual reminder of the specter of trouble, still very much plaguing some parts of the Islamic nation. At this time of regional instability and, in some cases, outright violence and destruction, running counter to the occasion and spirit of Ramadan, Muslims courageously and devotedly carry on with their Ramadan rituals with resilience, in spite of strife. Over in another neck of the globe, we bring you a tale of a particularly bold man taking ...

Ramadan is Kareem (generous) for some, but Stingy for Somalia Inevitably during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, the Somali plight- the distress of a fellow Arab nation, majority Muslim population, has not been far from the conscience of the devout followers of the fast. These worshippers use the month to reflect and count their blessings for the food and health they have, and use the temporary hunger to feel with the less fortunate. So the irony of Somalia has not been lost on them. How much does ...

Come Ramadan time and we have hordes of what could be considered seasonal followers of the Faith, or Muslims observant for just one month. There is a large population of Muslims who Remember their faith at Ramadan - like those Christians for Christmas who celebrate the holidays, or even attend Christmas Mass, having not stepped into church or uttered a Hail Mary all year round. This month throws a glaring light over the people who drink and don't pray all year but nevertheless are happy to join in the Ramadan ...

This post first appeared on Albawaba website in Ramadan 2011. Ramadan is a time of rules and regulations, but they don't dull the fulfillment, joy and benefits of this holiest of months! It's a time for practicing self-restraint; piety and sobriety with fewer fleshy pleasures than ordinarily enjoyed. Because if you can freely refrain from lawful fun for God's sake, it will be easier for you to turn away from what is unlawful and forbidden. The Quran prescribes fasting as a teaching tool to learn piety and righteousness. “Fasting provides ...

The Revolutionary Reckoning Egypt’s fallen leader, 83 year-old Hosni Mubarak, can only fall further as of today, since his long-awaited court trial has finally come to pass. Not only is this moment of an Arab leader being held to account for his crimes against his population both pre and during the Revolution sending out a stark message to other wobbly Arab leaders, but it is also the moment of truth for Egyptian activists who can feel the fruits of their labored Tahrir Revolution. This is a momentous occasion in the ...

This Ramadan, there has been an awareness that we will have a reduction in the usual much-anticipated soap opera season line-up. There has been a general decline in the film production industry in the Middle East related to a struggling economy that cuts back on the entertainment sector, but moreover a drastic decline since the Arab revolutions. Last year saw 101 shows aired, and this year sees a cutback in 35%, leaving us with 65 hours of entertainment a day. We have 40 Egyptian shows, 30 Syrian and 27 Gulf ...

The third bulletin in the series of latest entertainment news, on Arab artists.