Eid-ul-Fitr
Category: Islam, Walk of life
I can’t believe how quickly this Ramadan went by. The fasting from dawn to dusk has ended and Eid has come and gone. It all happened a little too quick in my opinion. This Eid was just three of us and my mom’s family. Everyone else has moved away.
Typically on the morning of Eid, the men get dressed, eat the sweets especially made for Eid, pay Sadaqah-ul-Fitr if they haven’t already before, and then go to the masjid for Eid salaah. Where I live, women don’t go to mosques for prayer (although they do at some selected places). After (or sometimes before) the men leave, the girls would get ready and offer Eid prayer in jamaat at home usually before the men came back.
Everyone looks and feels their best, every face has a noor or a light shining off and every eye has that happy twinkle.
That’s what I missed most. My brother, dad, and other cousins aren’t here. I missed rushing to get ready and finish prayer in time so we can hug and wish them the moment they came back. For my sisters and I, it’s a competition to see who wishes them first, and when we do we’re quite possessive and unwilling to let go. It’s a great feeling and it’s one of those few days my family actually feels like a real family. There’s a feeling of togetherness that other days can’t compare to.
The rest of the day would go by meeting and greeting people that either visited or were visited. Gifts are exchanged, as are heartfelt feelings and confessions. Again, that feeling of togetherness. Family portraits and photos are taken and sent to distant relatives and vice versa.
This year: no photos, no portraits, and hardly any visiting (since my brother and dad are the ones who would take us). No proof of Eid besides what was most obvious.
And the wonder remains in the fact that even without all of that, there was still that sense of joy that remained. Nothing could erase that feeling, or the spontaneous smiles and laughs. It may have felt surreal but it was still there. Such is the beauty of this day.
Eid Mubarak!
Take care always and ttyl ya. *huggles*
Tis late, I know; but Syawal lasts a month so Happy uber-late Eid-ul-fitr (we call it Aidilfitri here; nearly the same =P) And WRT Faye’s comment, it IS the same festival; only called differently.
I gotta admit, hanging out with Muslim friends during “open house” (wiki it, it’s at the end) is fun. Not because of the treats or green (money) packets; but the camaraderie. So yes, it must be empty to not have family with you during such a celebration. *sigh*