What practice is forbidden on the Day of Eid al-Fitr?

Fasting is forbidden on the Day of Eid al-Fitr.

The festival celebrates the completion of Ramadan, a month in which fasting from dawn to sunset is a central religious practice. Eid al-Fitr deliberately reverses that routine: Muslims are expected to eat and drink during the day rather than continue the Ramadan fast.

Many Muslims eat something before attending the Eid prayer, following a reported prophetic practice. The day is also associated with communal prayer, charity, visiting relatives, festive meals, and greetings such as “Eid Mubarak.” These customs complement the festival but are not what makes fasting prohibited.

The rule concerns the Eid day itself, not every day surrounding it. Voluntary fasting may resume afterward, and Muslims who missed Ramadan fasts for a valid reason can generally make them up later. Eid al-Fitr is therefore both a celebration and a clear ritual boundary between Ramadan and Shawwal.