- How do you celebrate Eid al-Fitr? How does it differ from Eid al-Adha?
Usually we do celebrate Eid al-Fitr with family and friends to mark the end of 1 month of fasting. We go to the mosque early in the morning to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer and congratulate the Muslim community for the completion of fasting, after that the family gather and enjoy a big traditional breakfast. On this day we wear new clothes as a way of expressing our joy, kids too in addition to the new outfit they get offered gifts from their family members and the nearby neighbours. It is a busy day as the Muslim communities visit one another throughout the day. Eid al-Adha in other hand has completely different purpose, it is celebrated two months after Eid al-Fitr and it commemorates the story in the Quran of God appearing to Ibrahim/Abraham in a dream and commanding him to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of willingness and commitment , but God almighty replaced his son with a sheep, it could be also a lamb or goat and get shared among the family, friends and the needy within the community. Muslim pilgrimage on this occasion heads of toward Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
- Food plays an important role in Eid al-Fitr. Thinking back to childhood, what was your favorite meal to have during this time?
During the day of Eid al-Fitr, people are enjoying big traditional breakfast and bearing in mind that this is the first day after the fasting ended. For me personally growing up as a child and in addition to spending quality time with my family, I was always looking forward to enjoying a delicious homemade sweet.
- What are some traditions you and your family and friends like to do leading up the holiday?
Leading up to this occasion there are a lot things to be added on the calendar, almost everyone goes to the market to buy all the necessary things that will be needed on the day. A night before you could smell the lovely odor all around the neighbourhood coming from the home baking.
- Community and giving is encouraged during the celebration. Can you share more about Zakat al-Fitr?
Zakat al-Fitr is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a form of charity given to the poor and needy ones at the end of Ramadan which it is calculated according to the place and location where you live. This is due on every member of a household and it is obligatory to pay it before the day of Eid.
Deckers Careers 