The Prime Minister of Egypt declared that Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated in Egypt from Tuesday 30th August for four days. Likewise, countries and leaders around the globe exchanged the season’s greetings on the declaration of the Islamic holiday. The Afghan President Hamid Karzai was present in Saudi Arabia to break the fast with King Abdullah and visit Mecca for prayers.
King Abdullah II of Jordan attended festival prayers on 31st August 2011 at the Hashemite palace in Amman. Upon his arriving with other senior officials, the Royal Artillery fired twenty one shots in celebration. Dr Ahmed Hillel delivered the sermon, preaching a message of tolerance, peace and obedience to God.
In Nigeria, the Christian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had a message of unity for his nation of two religions:
“It is not easy to fast for a month. And having participated in it for the past five years, I know that it takes a lot of sacrifice, commitment, dedication and faith to do that successfully.
“We are happy that the Ramadan fast has come to an end and Muslims have been able to keep faith with that. And we believe that this is the period, being an holy month, that will also transform us as individuals and as a nation.”
President Sleiman of Lebanon extended his “heartfelt felicitations” wishing the Lebanese in general and Muslims in particular “prosperity, happiness, and stability” on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr. The Lebanese Army will be firing three rounds in celebration of Eid ul Fitr in Beirut. In Mali, the government attempted to stabilise the price of beef by promoting special cattle sales ahead of the end of Ramadan.