Eid Mubarak: What it means and other wishes to celebrate

As Ramadan comes to an end and Eid al-Fitr approaches, Muslims around the world will begin giving out Eid Mubarak wishes to friends and family. Eid Mubarak is a traditional greeting used in the Muslim religion during times of holy festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. It’s a celebratory term that’s exchanged between communities as a sign of respect and recognition. The following information will help you understand the meaning of Eid Mubarak, when to use it, and how to utilize the proper Eid Mubarak pronunciation.

What does Eid Mubarak mean

Eid Mubarak is an Arabic term that directly translates to “blessed holiday” or “blessed feast/festival.” Eid is Arabic for “celebration,” “festival,” or “feast” and “Mubarak” translates to “blessed.”

The Eid Mubarak meaning is used as a traditional way to greet someone or offer celebrations in the Muslim community during Eid. While it’s been regarded as a religious obligation in the past, the meaning of Eid Mubarak is used as more of a cultural tradition in today’s society.

Is Eid Mubarak said around the world?

While Eid Mubarak is most commonly used by Arab Muslims, it’s becoming more widespread amongst anyone who celebrates Eid festivals.

This includes individuals around the world who participate in Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid Mubarak wishes are given openly and are a great way to show support of the Muslim culture.

Can you say Eid Mubarak to non-Muslims?

The underlying meaning of Eid Mubarak is a positive, celebratory one that can be extended to people in every culture.

Many Muslims will say Eid Mubarak to people in their community, regardless of their religion. Conversely, if non-Muslims wish Muslims Eid Mubarak, it is almost always happily received. Just try to use it during appropriate times, such as during the celebrations of Eid. Acknowledging each other’s culture is a great way to show kindness and respect.

How to use Eid Mubarak

Since the meaning of Eid Mubarak means “blessed holiday,” you can use it to wish others a happy Eid. It can be said as a greeting or simply in passing.

If you want to use the elongated version of Eid Mubarak, it will depend on which festival of the Islamic Calendar you’re celebrating. During Eid Al-Fitr, you would say “Eid al-Fitr Mubarak.” During Eid al-Adha, you would say “Eid al-Adha Mubarak.” However, general Eid Mubarak wishes are welcomed by everyone.

What is Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr is an important day in the Islamic Calendar. It marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates the conclusion of the period of fasting. During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims spend time with their loved ones, share meals, and even exchange gifts. It is one of the holidays with the highest religious significance in the Muslim community. Since Eid Mubarak is a way to say, “blessed feast” or “blessed festival,” it’s used often during the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. The exact date of Eid al-Fitr is calculated by the sighting of the moon, but this year, Ramadan is estimated to end on Monday, May 2, 2022. This is when Eid al-Fitr celebrations will begin. This festival often lasts three days.

How to Pronounce Eid Mubarak

To take part in the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, it’s important to learn the correct Eid Mubarak pronunciation. Eid is pronounced “eed,” as in the word “feed.” Mubarak is pronounced “Mu-ba-rack” with special emphasis on “-barack.” Try practicing saying it out loud a few times, “eed Mu-ba-rack.” When you pass on these wishes, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback about your Eid Mubarak pronunciation.

When to use Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak is said during the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. You can use it as a greeting when interacting with people in the Muslim community. It’s most commonly exchanged on the last day of Ramadan. Newer generations have also begun saying it at midnight of the Eid day, similar to how people wish each other a happy New Year.

Different Eid Mubarak wishes to give

Eid Mubarak wishes are typically given in one of three primary ways. In the Middle East, many people exchange the Arabic greetings of “Eid Saeed” or “Kul ‘aam wa antum bi’khair” in addition to the traditional Eid Mubarak wishes. These translate to “happy celebration” and “may I find you well and in good health every year” respectively. However, different Muslim communities around the world have adapted the traditional wishes based on their unique culture and language. Depending on the country you’re in, you may hear variations of the phrase with the same Eid Mubarak meaning being exchanged. These differences are due to language variations. Some of these include the following:

Malay – Malay is the language spoken across Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore. In these communities, individuals often replace Eid Mubarak wishes with “Selamat Hari Raya.” This directly translates to “happy celebrations day.”

Albanian – In Albania, members of the Muslim community interchange “Gezuar Bajramin” for Eid Mubarak. This greeting is also commonly heard amongst the two other Muslim countries in Europe, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo—an independent nation of Serbia.

Ghanian – About 20% of the population in Ghana are Muslim. Here, they celebrate with the words “Ni ti yuun’ palli” as a way to wish each other a happy Eid season. “Barka da sallah” is also used in northern Ghana, where the language is Hausa.

Chinese – There are about 28 million Muslims living throughout China. During Eid festivals, the offer the greeting “Kai zhai jie kuai le” as an alternative to traditional Eid Mubarak wishes. This translates to “happy festival.”

Kurdish – As one of the most common languages spoken in the Middle East, Kurdish Eid greetings are often used in Iraq and Iran. Here, they use the phrase “Jazhnt Piroz,” which directly translates to “happy Eid.”

Russian – Russia is another country that 20 million Muslims call home. During celebrations, it’s common to hear friends, family, and community members exchange “Id Mubarak” greetings, which similarly translates to “blessed/happy festivals.”

Spanish – Muslims living in Latin American countries or Spain may exchange the greeting “Feliz Eid,” which translates to “happy Eid.” Others prefer to use the traditional Eid Mubarak wishes during celebrations.

The underlying meaning of Eid Mubarak is the same across different cultures. However, slight variations to how you wish someone a happy Eid may depend on their language. You can use the above Eid Mubarak wishes when in respective countries. If you’re worried about pronunciation, the traditional phrase of Eid Mubarak is still welcomed. Muslims across different cultures and countries recognize this greeting and will happily receive your wishes.

How to Respond to Eid Mubarak?

During Muslim celebrations, it’s polite to know how to reply to Eid Mubarak. Since this is a sign of respect, you can respond to Eid Mubarak with “Khair Mubarak.” This reciprocates the wishes of goodwill to the person who greeted you. Alternatively, you can reply to Eid Mubarak with “JazakAllah Khair.” While this is often used as a way to say, “thank you,” its direct translation is “may Allah reward you with goodness.” Either of these responses will be graciously accepted by members of the Muslim community.

Regardless of if you’re a practicing Muslim or not, acknowledging this religious holiday with Eid Mubarak wishes is a great way to foster inclusivity within your community. To help you master the pronunciation of this Arabic greeting, and celebratory phrases in other cultures, Tandem’s language exchange app can help. We bring millions of learners together to form a community where native languages can be exchanged, taught, and understood. If you’re looking to practice languages with a like-minded native speaker, sign up for Tandem today.