My Eidy!

Big salaams from your sister MOH (Muslim On Holiday). Not to rub it in or anything. I flew on Wednesday to the desert land of Sharjah to spend Eid with my family. Most MIE will have a place abroad which is a 'home from home'... in my case, I have no genetic affiliation to Sharjah, but lived here for a couple of years.

Coming back, for the first time since moving back to England, was a jarring experience. As much as I had wanted to return home whilst I lived here, I never realised how much I'd missed the smell of this place until its sweet sandy waft hit me smack bang in the face. There's so much sky over here. And everything- EVERYTHING- is bigger. Unlike its neighbour Dubai, Sharjah still has most of its Arab country charm intact. Mosques opposite Mosques (as opposed to Starbucks opposite Starbucks...though we fear that day will come), dusty buildings, people actually talking Arabic, insane traffic and cows-I-mistook-for-giant-goats in the car park. Well, the latter was an Eid Al-Adha special... needless to say; I've been sufficiently thawed by the lovely 28 degree winter. Not to rub it in or anything.

Spending Eid in a Muslim country is a blessing, which I hope all my sisters and brothers get to experience. To feel such a deep connection with a passerby and to partake in an act of worship as a community is such a beautiful thing- so much peace and a feeling of acceptance and belonging enters your heart.

We awoke at Fajr and walked to the mosque (not our local, but our favourite Masjid Noor, 'mosque of Light') on the Sharjah corniche. I'd spent an emotional Ramadan there a year ago, praying Tarawih in the ladies garden of the mosque, sweat beads dripping down my face. The Qari had such a beautiful voice it almost seemed familiar... I realised that he sounded just like the reciter on my favourite YouTube video I'd been a tad obsessed with a few years ago.

Anyhoo, you can guess the ending:
A series of random events led me to find out, not only was it the very same Qari (Shaykh Murtada), but he was my Mum's colleague! So naturally, I have a soft spot for Masjid Noor; it's worth the extra walk!

As the sun steadily rose, the streets were filled with families walking with one aim, most with prayer mats slung over their shoulders to anticipate the likelihood they'd be praying in the streets, and the main three-lane road (small by UAE standards) had turned into a car park.



'Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, La illaha illallah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lil'Allah bil hamd-
God is Great, God is Great, There is no God but Allah, God is Great, God is Great, and to God we give thanks’

echoed in the air from the minarets, the worshippers muttered, whispered, and sang the words of glorification and thankfulness to God as they walked. Following in the Sunnah, the Prophetic way, sweets were given out to start the day, by children in the mosque all dressed to the nines (at 6.30am, mind you, now that takes effort). After prayer, families filled the palm tree park alongside the mosque. We had come prepared with milky tea and breakfast and had our Eid morning picnic. Three cups of tea later, we returned home for a nap and in the evening drove to Dubai to mooch around a mall, eating amazing burgers, and ice-cream served by worryingly smiley workers dancing and singing the Macarena… I kid you not. Very 'traditional', I know.



The UAE is in full-blown celebratory mode at the moment, with Eid today, National day next week (38 years since the formation of the UAE) and Christmas around the corner. Only in Dubai will you see a traditional Emirati dance performed with a backdrop of a giant Christmas tree, and the World's tallest building in the distance. FYI, the Emirati dance is the COOLEST dance ever. It is so subtle. My Mum's theory is that Bedouins would need to conserve energy in the desert heat, whilst my sister informs me the moves are supposed to mimic that of a camel. It basically involves tiny head movements, a casual foot shuffle, waving a stick about and spinning a (plastic) gun in the air. Check it out. I could watch it all day. Do let me know your thoughts!



Now this jet-lagged lady is off to attempt sleep once more. I pray we all get the opportunity to one day be among the Hajji's and Hajjiya's in Makkah, but until then, enjoy the rest of the Eid celebrations... it's a four-day event you know!