Muslims around the world mark Eid al Fitr

Muslim worshippers arrive to attend Eid al-Fitr prayer at al-Azhar mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (Khaled Desouki/ AFP)

Jordan’s King Abdullah II (2nd L) and his son, Crown Prince Hussein (L), and half-brother Prince Faisal 3rd (C) performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer at a mosque in the Red Sea resort of Aqabah. (Jordanian Royal Palace / AFP)

A Muslim worshipper from Uzbekistan prays at al-Azhar mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad performs the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Grand Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. (SANA / AFP)

Muslim worshippers perform the Eid al-Fitr morning prayer at Dubai's Eid Musalla in the Gulf emirate's old port area. (Karim Sahib/ AFP)

People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers outside the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. (Bulent Kilic / AFP)

Iranian Muslim women perform Eid al-Fitr prayers in western Tehran. (Atta Kenare / AFP)

Palestinian worshippers raise the Hamas and the Palestinian flag along with a Hamas poster with portraits of its leaders, at the Dome of the Rock shrine in the al-Aqsa mosques compound in Jerusalem's Old City. (Ahmad Gharabli / AFP)

People take part in Eid al-Fitr prayer which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan on May 13, 2021 at the Grand Mosque in Pristina, Kosovo. (Armend Nimani / AFP)

Muslim devotees shop after offering special prayers on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. (Arif Ali / AFP)

Chinese Muslims worshippers participate in Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at the Niujie Mosque in Beijing. (Noel Celis / AFP)

Muslim devotees pray to start the Eid-al-Fitr festival during a three-day ceasefire agreed by the warring Taliban and Afghan forces, in an open area at a mosque on the outskirts of Jalalabad. Noorullah Shirzada / AFP)

Filipino Muslims wearing face masks against Covid-19 disease stand outside a mosque during Eid-al-Ftr celebrations in Manila. (STR / AFP)

Worshippers are seen ahead of Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney. (Steven Saphore / AFP)

Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Al Akbar mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia. (Juni Kriswanto / AFP)

• For the second year Muslims celebrations are being impacted by COVID-19 restictions
• In Gaza Muslims marked Eid despite the escalating violence with Israel

DUBAI: Millions of Muslims around the world performed Eid Al-Fitr prayers on Thursday with varying degrees of restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 and civil unrest.

Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from any form of food – liquid or solid – as well as not smoking during daylight hours.

There are some similarities in the way Muslims celebrate around the world, with prayers and where possible with family and friends.

In Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Muslims bake cakes, go on picnics and organize barbecues in forests.

In Gaza, Muslims still prayed together despite intense fighting with Israel.

And in China - where the government has been facing intense criticism for its treatment of minority Muslims - Beijing's Muslim community gathered for Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Niujie Mosque - the capital city's biggest and oldest mosque.

In Afghanistan a three-day ceasefire has been agreed by the warring Taliban and Afghan forces, which came into force on Thursday.

Indonesia – the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation – has for a second year been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Many mosques have had to be closed and restrictions on movements have impacted family reunions.

Even in non-Islamic countries, Muslims will attend local mosques to pray - but Thursday is normal working day and some will book the time off work to be with family - COVID–19 restrictions allowing.

For more images of Muslims welcoming Eid Al-Fitr click here.