Eid Buzz: Sweets & Treats and some words to treasure

Eid is the most fun festival of Muslims around the world. It's a blessing alhamdulillah. Family and friends are all in a festive mood and arranging reunions over lunches and dinners. A couple of sisters arranged for special Eid treats for their families. 

Eid Sweets & Treats

Sr. Almas Akhtar, from Milton, Keynes, makes cake pops. She runs the "Scrumptious Pops" page on Facebook. You can join in her delicious creativity at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrumptous-Pops/209343185771761 She baked a gorgeous Eid cake that she was happy to share the photo of with us.

This is beautiful, mashAllah! She takes personal orders and makes gift baskets as well. So, if you're in the area and you need to add some spark to that birthday bash or a tea party, Sr. Almas is the one you need to call. Check in on her Facebook page for more info!

Another one of my friends, Little Prince's Mommy (as she calls herself), set out a delicious Eid table for her family and friends. There was cake too! Alhamdulillah!

I was going through my Facebook feed and came across a beautiful message by Sr. Ghazala. She wrote: 

"Day 4.5 without electricity. At least the gas came back. Alhamdulillah for having water though. Alhamdulillah for a lot of things. You don't realize how much you take things for granted until you lose it. People around the world don't even have homes, running water, or electricity, or food as it is. Or all living in poverty or drought. Be grateful for your blessings and thank God."

This got me thinking of the people in Somalia where new zones have been added to the list of emergency areas of famine and drought. I Googled and found out how they celebrated their Eid. It brings tears to the eyes to see how they're getting their holiday food from aid camps. 

Be thankful! Each minute and say alhamdulillah at every little joy in life. It could have been you in that queue today on Eid. But Allah (swt) planned otherwise. Alhamdulillah.

LaDecence Hijabs & Accessories Eid Fest 2011

LaDecence inaugurated a fabulous Eid Sale, 20% off, on all their merchandise to celebrate Eid. News went out, announcing the sale, on their website www.ladecence.com  

MashAllah, they sold out a lot of popular scarves, brooches, and teekas. Congratulations!

After Chaand Raat (Eid eve) the sale was reduced to 10% and is still running on their new stock while it lasts. Grab your September Prints, ladies!

Imam Safi Khan at the Dar-us-Salaam mosque in Maryland made a beautiful dua'a on Eid that I wish to share:

 "May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make this a wonderful Eid for you and your family. May He accept your praying/fasting and may He keep your Iman strong. May He bless you with the guidance, motivation, courage, strength and determination to maintain your Taqwa. May He endow you with ever higher levels of Iman, Taqwa, & Tawakkul. May He inspire you with new ideas and creative solutions to our ummah's trails. May He grant you Jannatal Firdaws. TaqabbalAllahu minna wa minkum."

ProductiveMuslim.com Eid Animation

That's all for today! Have a great 2nd/3rd day of Eid tomorrow!

Eid Buzz: Lively Eid Morning!

Assalamoalekum! 

Eid Mubarak!

I'm checking out some beautiful Eid photos of sisters and their families on Facebook. The spirit has definitely set in! As I wait for my turn for a shower, let me share some friends' Eid photos with you!

THG Eid Outfits

First off are the outfits! Sr. Izza, the genius mind behind The Hijabi Girl vlogging/blogging series has initiated an Eid Giveaway! The deal to participate is to compile a photo(s) of your complete Eid outfit and put them up. The winner would be randomly selected. I'm sharing some photos here, starting with mine!

wow!!! Those are some seriously gorgeous outfits mashAllah!

Eid Decor

Some of the sisters have also decorated the house for Eid! How awesome is that, mashAllah!

On a fellow blogger, IHijabi's page I came across an Eid balloon! Never knew those existed!

Eid Breakfast

As I mentioned yesterday in my Chaand Raat entry, the Eid menu definitely has sweet stuff! We had fruit trifle and kheer! Odd number of dates is Sunnah, and so ... one date :)

Eid Prayers

5000+ Muslims gathered in a sports complex in Maryland, USA to glorify Allah (swt) and thank Him for His blessings that He showered during Ramadan. It is always a beautiful sight to see thousands of people bow their heads to Him and raise their voice to say the Takbeer (glorification verses).

Stay tuned in to the Eid Buzz on Sisterly Yours, there's more to come. Of course ... there are 3 days to Eid!

Chaand Raat: Eid Eve

Assalamoalekum!

As the new moon is sighted, the month of Ramadan comes to an end and the 3 day festival of Eid ul Fitr begins for Muslims around the world. The new month of Shawwaal begins with a festive arrangement of eating, drinking, and being merry with friends and family. Alhamdulillah! (Praise Allah). The eve in which the new moon is sighted is called Chaand Raat in India/Pakistan and it marks the start of Eid preparations.

Moon Sighting or Moon Fighting :)

Sighting the moon is usually not an easy task. Some people see it in their area and some might not, specially if the clouds set in! Tonight is one of those nights and a couple of places are still trying to hunt for a crescent. All mosques and community centers have moon sighting committees comprising of knowledgeable Sheikhs and Imams. They, along with the public, sight the moon using their naked eyes, a pair of binoculars, or a telescope, and give the verdict.

Eid announcement on ISNA.net

One of the rulings of Islamic faith recommends that the majority party's word should be taken as to when should one mark the end of Ramadan. Our's in North America is the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) which has given its verdict that Eid ul Fitr will be tomorrow, inshAllah. The moon's been sighted. Some of my friends are still waiting for the local mosques they've been following to give their verdict. 

I am missing Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman who is the head of the Hilal (moon) committee in Pakistan and he sights the moon along with all other religious heads of the country. He has his special charm on Chaand Raat when he shows up live on all TV channels from the seminar of Hilal Committee with the announcement of whether or not the moon's been sighted. The result is kept a suspense till the last minute and he makes sure he reveals it really, really slow! I miss him this year in USA.

Eid hugs are exchanged as soon as the moon is sighted and Eid is announced.

Chaand Raat: Eid Eve Festivities

As soon as the news of the moon being sighted is announced, it is a GO signal for people to get set for Eid the next morning. Everybody gets out their best clothes as the Sunnah (lifestyle of Prophet Mohammad (saww)) prescribes us to. Usually, these clothes have been bought earlier for Eid. The idea is not to wear new clothes, but the best one can afford. 

The ladies are the most active! They're getting together matching Hijabs, bangles, jewelry, and shoes to go with their Eid outfits. Women in Pakistan/India apply henna on their hands and feet. It's such a beautiful Eid tradition. Eid bazaars are all over the place in Muslim countries. Muslim communities in western countries arrange for Eid bazaars at reserved venues in the area. 

But there's nothing like Eid in Karachi! The buildings are lit up with decorative light bulbs, people are crowded on the streets getting in and out of the bazaars, and mithaai (sweets) shops are selling out!

Sweets are also being made at home for family and friends who'd come to visit on Eid day. Sheer Khurma (right), a vermicelli and dry fruits pudding, and Kheer (left) a rice pudding are traditional Eid treats in Indian/Pakistani culture.

Gifts and treats are prepared to send and share with friends and family the next day. The spirit is about sharing the love, peace, and blessings earned during Ramadan with loved ones. Telephone lines jam as people call up their friends and family all over the world to wish them a happy Eid. 

As the preparations reach completion (they're never really complete!) people march off to bed. Everybody is scheduled to attend the huge Eid prayers event very early next morning on Eid day. 

Stay tuned for more on Eid, inshAllah.