According to Muslim tradition, the prophet Muhammad instituted the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
Eid al-Fitr is observed on the first day of Shawwal, immediately after Ramadan. Muslim tradition connects its establishment with Muhammad’s teachings and practice, making him the canonical answer to the question. The holiday combines worship and celebration: Muslims perform a special prayer, give zakat al-Fitr or another required charitable contribution, and gather with family and friends.
The festival is not described as having been instituted by Abraham, Jesus or Moses. Those figures are also important prophets in Islam, but they are associated with other parts of Islamic religious history. Eid al-Adha, for example, is linked especially with Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command and is known as the Festival of Sacrifice.
A hadith tradition further says that when Muhammad arrived in Medina, he encountered two existing days of recreation. He taught that God had provided Muslims with two better festival days: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. This tradition places the festivals within the early Muslim community.