Wishing to you happy Eid

The Muslim world will celebrate Eid al-Adha ( Feast of Sacrifice), In Syria it is celebrated with great affection, Many people prepare sumptuous meals for family and friends and decorate their homes.

What is common in Eid festivities is the hospitality and generosity of Syrian people, Firstly, to gather at the father and mother home, after the Eid prayers, young children in their new clothes, line up in front of each adult family member, to take Eidi, that mean to take money, as a gift by every elder in the family, kids are allowed to spend their money as they want on Eid day.

In every street there are game shops, mobile, computer café, food shops, outdoor rides like see-saw, pirate-ship, ferrous-wheel, etc, all these games are setup for kids to have fun all day. People pay a visit to their relatives, and friends, some go to picnic, in the parks or the seaside all this to enjoy and relax.

That was the Eid in Syria before the crisis, but how is our Eid now:

I’ve met a lot of people, and asked them about their feeling towards the Eid now, all of them, have sadness, shock disbelief, helplessness, and anger, of what is happening to Syria and Syrians, a lot of deaths, a lot of destruction, and a lot of displaced people.

 A mother asked me: what do you feel if you lost your child, I’ve lost my child, he was too young to die, I feel that it isn’t fair, I feel that everyone should live his life, except if God took him, why they are killing the children?  I miss him, he was waiting the Eid to come, he wanted to ride a horse in Eid, and he wanted to play football with his friends, she couldn’t speak more.

I feel her sadness, I can’t take away her tears, I don’t know what to say,  I wish I can share part of her wrenching pain, I wish I can bring her child back to her again, oh my God there are a lot of pain, so much tragedies, in Syria.

I know that no one can take away the suffering of people, but we must help each other, we must really try to feel the pain of people, especially in Eid al-Adha ( Feast of Sacrifice), to make sad people feel that you are really with them, waiting for them to get back on their feet again.

Mother Teresa said:

“Love is not patronizing and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same — with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.”

When we are born, there’s only one thing all of us having in common, we are going to die, we live a short life, we must do something good to others, no matter what car we drive, or how much money we have in the bank, they are meaningless compared of being human, I know you will feel happy by sharing people, their sadness and happiness, don’t waste the opportunity, you are still alive, and the Eid is coming, you can change the life of a child with a smile, no matter what problems you have, they could be worse, at least you are living in a home, and many people without, or maybe you have a family who are willing to support you, but many haven’t now, if you are healthy, thank God, it is enough to live happy, because many have lost their health.

 At last I say as our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

Smiling in your brother’s face is an act of charity.
So is enjoining good and forbidding evil,
giving directions to the lost traveler,
aiding the blind and
removing obstacles from the path.

Butheina Al-Nounou