Which month of fasting does Eid al-Fitr mark the end of?

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.

The festival begins with the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan in the Islamic lunar calendar. Because lunar months begin with moon sightings or astronomical determinations and the lunar year is shorter than the solar year, Eid al-Fitr moves through the seasons over time. Its date can therefore differ by a day between communities and countries.

Eid al-Fitr is a day of communal prayer, charitable giving, family visits, and festive meals. Before the prayer, Muslims traditionally give zakat al-fitr, a charitable contribution intended to help those in need participate in the celebration. Shawwal is not the fasting month itself; it follows Ramadan. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic year, and Dhu al-Hijjah is associated with Hajj and Eid al-Adha, making Ramadan the single canonical answer.