Eid Mubarak Meaning in Arabic and Islam

What Eid Mubarak means

Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك) is a short Arabic greeting that means blessed festival. The word Eid comes from an Arabic root linked to returning, which suits a celebration that comes back every year. The word mubarak comes from the root for blessing, so the phrase wishes the listener a festival full of good and barakah.

It is said on the two main festivals of the Islamic year, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. It is a warm, simple wish that anyone can say, and you will see it in greeting cards, text messages and social media posts around the world.

The two Eids behind the greeting

Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month after Ramadan, and marks the end of the month of fasting. Muslims gather for a special Eid prayer in the morning, give charity so that everyone can celebrate, and spend the day with family and friends. Our Ramadan guide explains the month that leads up to it.

Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah, during the season of Hajj. It remembers the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to obey Allah, and many families share meat from an animal offered in sacrifice with relatives, neighbours and people in need. Both festivals follow the Islamic calendar, so their dates move earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar, and you can see the current dates in our overview of Islamic holidays.

Anas ibn Malik reported that when the Prophet, peace be upon him, came to Madinah, the people had two days on which they played and celebrated. He told them that Allah had replaced them with two better days, the day of Fitr and the day of sacrifice. This hadith is found in Sunan Abi Dawud, and people often mention it when they explain why Muslims keep two Eids.

When and how to say Eid Mubarak

People usually start saying Eid Mubarak once the new moon has been announced and the festival is confirmed. The greeting is most common on the morning of Eid, after the Eid prayer, when worshippers shake hands or hug and wish each other well outside the mosque or prayer ground. It continues through the day at family meals and visits, and in calls and messages to relatives who live far away.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated over several days, so the greeting stays in use for a while. Some people add the name of the festival, for example Eid al-Fitr Mubarak or Eid al-Adha Mubarak, though the short form is the one most people use.

In many Arabic-speaking countries people also say Eid Saeed, which means happy festival. Both are warm and natural. A person who is not Muslim can say Eid Mubarak to a Muslim friend or colleague, and a simple thank you in reply is always polite.

How to reply to Eid Mubarak

The easiest reply is to say Eid Mubarak back, often with a short wish for the person and their family. This is how most people answer, and it needs no special wording.

Many Muslims reply with taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum, which means may Allah accept from us and from you. It is a prayer that the fasting and prayers of Ramadan, or the worship of the Hajj season, are accepted by Allah. Reports from the early Muslim community mention that the companions greeted one another with this wording on Eid, and scholars discuss the strength of those reports. Eid Mubarak, by contrast, is a general good wish that became common over time.

Another reply is kull am wa antum bi-khayr, which means may every year find you well. If someone hands you a gift or sweets, jazakallah khair is a natural way to thank them, and our guide to saying thank you in Arabic covers more ways to give thanks. If you are not sure what to say, a smile and a simple thank you, and to you too, always works.

Eid greetings and related phrases

This table brings the main Eid greetings together, with the Arabic and when to use each.

Examples of Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak, Khalid! Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum.

Blessed Eid, Khalid! May Allah accept from us and from you.

Eid Mubarak to you and your family.

Blessed Eid to you and your family.

Kull am wa antum bi-khayr, Eid Mubarak!

May every year find you well, blessed Eid!

Eid Mubarak! Jazakallah khair for the sweets.

Blessed Eid! May Allah reward you with good for the sweets.

Common questions