Second EID coming up…

I know I haven’t written for a while but I will be updating you about my past weeks in the upcoming blogs since it was adventurous and exciting, but this blog will be about Eid that is coming up.

As you know this Friday will be Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), that is celebrated in the 12^th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which is also  known as the sacred month. Muslims around the world visit the Holy Kabbah and perform Hajj (also known as pilgrimage) during this time of the year, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hopefully I do it someday!

As you guys know, we have two EIDs, one that comes right after Ramadan (known as Eid ul-Fitr) and this Friday is called Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). The second Eid, we usually slaughter an animal i.e., lamb or cow, and then the meat is divided into thirds; one third is given to those in need, one third to friends/families and one third is kept for oneself.  The reason for slaughtering reminds us the story of Prophet Ibrahim (or Abraham) PBUH and his son Ismail, which you can google after.

Our family tradition is to give money or gifts to the younger ones (most preferably money) and gifts for the second Eid. And the day goes as follow: we get up in the morning and shower before going to the Mosque (also known as Masjid), then we head to in-laws after prayers then to my moms, and then to family friends house who is holding a get-together (one family takes turn every year). In my moms culture, women don’t go to Mosque but I have been going here since the age of 4, therefore, I always go for prayers to the Mosque.

Gift – I completed my shopping last Sunday and proud that everything is ready for Friday. I got Aeropostle t-shirts for the boys and girls under 18; golf shirts for the men; lip glosses from FOREVER21 for the girls; pearl set from FOREVER21 for the women, and perfume/cologne set for the parents and in-laws. You are supposed to give to the younger ones but I got a little something for adults as well.

To those who celebrate, have a great EID!

Share a verse from the Holy Book

Two weeks ago, I went to a get-together where everyone’s task was to share knowledge by discussing topics on religion. I decided to bring an ayat (i.e., verse, dua) and its significance to this group. So I decided to post it, so enjoy:

I mean we all have little duas (i.e., ayat, verses) that are stuck in our brains, taught by our parents, families, and or Imams;  we tend to memorize the duas but don’t know the meaning, but is rewarding.

The dua I would like to share with you all is from Surah Baqarah which I learnt from my maulana (also known as your Islamic teacher and can also be an Imam) when I was little. I was told to say it after durood shareef in my Salah; mom made me read a full tasbeeh in Ramadan; and dad told me this is an important dua when performing Hajj, but last weekend at a funeral, the Imam asked us to say this dua after the third takbir if one doesn’t know the Surah he mentioned. I said to myself, how can we say this ayat at a funeral (Namaz e-Janaza) and that’s when my curiosity began.

Rabbana Atina fid Dunya Hasanah wafil Akhirati Hasanah wa Qina Azaban Naar

So I asked my father to explain, he started with the easy words, we know the word Dunya means ‘this life’, ‘this world we live in’; and akhira derived from akhir meaning ‘the end’ signifying ‘the day of Judgment,’ ‘the hereafter’; May Allah save us in this world, save us in hereafter, and keep us away from the punishment in hell.

This dua was frequently repeated by our Prophets (SAW).  When we (especially myself) ask Allah for something, i.e., I ask for promotion at work, wealth, bigger house, good health for myself and my families, so our priorities come from this dunya (this dunya becomes more important than our hereafter). The truth is, I never ask for my hereafter, since I am so pre-occupied with this world than hereafter; I never say, May Allah make my journey to Paradise an easy one.

So last week when I was at one of my extended aunt’s funeral, I saw my aunt lying down in a simple wooden box wrapped with white cloth (it was first time for me), but it made me realize that I will not take anything materialistic from this world with me, neither the big house nor my position. I will only take my deeds (karma), my duas, and my prayers with me.

My dad always says, if we have the knowledge of what we are asking for, it helps our duas to come from our heart. I have read this ayat in all my prayers, but don’t know if it really counted. So whenever you read this dua, I want you all to be rewarded and remember what you are asking for: May Allah save us in this world, save us in hereafter, and keep us away from the punishment in hell. Ameen!

A small disclaimer: what I am about to share is what I have learnt from my elders, so if I am wrong, please do correct me; I am definitely in the learning process (and definitely not an expert).