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Eid
day was great and went without a hitch. Okay, so only part of that
statement is true - the first part. As far as days go, it is the
best day of the year for Muslims and one makes it what it is themselves.
As for the 'without a hitch' fantasy - well, we live in hope.
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| Adam
Yosef |
A lot
of people moan the night before Eid, on Eid day and for two whole
days after about how Eid has been another cock-up.
Not
because they don't enjoy Eid day (believe me, the fun, food and
frolics lighten all spirits) but because everyone needs a hot topic
for discussion during Eid meals and gatherings. I mean, you can't
have aunties ululating all evening can you?
Is
Eid Saturday or Sunday?..
Yes,
Eid day seems to become more and more controversial by the year
but it wouldn't really feel like Eid if everything went perfect,
would it? So I'll cheer everyone up by sharing my Eid day, starting
with the night before of course (as all good stories do).
Everyone
I know prayed for Eid to fall on Sunday, they really did. Especially
mosque staff who had only Saturday to prepare things. Imams from
various mosques agreed in unity that Eid was on Sunday but if the
moon was sighted on Friday night, Eid would be celebrated on Saturday.
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| Birmingham
Central Mosque |
It
didn't work out as planned. Eid was announced for Saturday by a
marginal majority. The Haram or holy first mosque in Mecca announced
Eid, then London Central Mosque confirmed accordingly, soon after
Birmingham Central Mosque delighted the congregation as it followed
suit.
Uproar
over Eid day decision...
Worshippers
at Central Mosque rushed home while others stayed to tidy the mosque
all ready for Eid prayers in the morning. Brothers on the I'thikaf
(10 day seclusion) jumped to joy and escaped before you could hand
them the hoover. I was devastated considering I was banking on Sunday
as I hadn't prepared much at all but then you can't argue with fate
(unless it's the name of your bank manager).
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Eid
in pictures
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Eid
day at Birmingham Central Mosque
Take
a look at pictures taken by Adam Yosef on Eid morning at Central
Mosque.
Picture gallery
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In
some local mosques the faithful waited in hope of hearing similar
news of Eid. When the mosque leaders rejected Saturday, there was
uproar as congregations split down the middle and masses stormed
out. In one mosque an Imam apparently announced Eid only to be rebuked
by the so-called 'committee' of the mosque.
I
wonder if Sunday being the day when more people would be off work,
in attendance and able to make donations was a contributory factor
to the insistence of some to have Eid on Sunday. I have no beef
with those who honestly believe that they had accurately determined
Eid for Sunday, just those who manipulate Eid day for personal or
financial reasons.
Preparations
begin...
Meanwhile,
staff at Central Mosque were frantically sticking up signs, preparing
facilities, setting answer phone announcements and updating website
information. I had a million and one things to do. I rushed around
with Ezzat el-Barbary, the mosque web designer, trying to pick up
carrier bags from Asda.
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| Entering
Central Mosque for Eid prayers |
The
store kindly provided the mosque with over 15,000 bags so that worshippers
wouldn't lose their shoes or shopping even though they had a mass
of stuff to deal with including Children in Need and Christmas and
Diwali shoppers.
Ezz
and I were stuck in traffic for ages. I had broken my fast but eaten
nothing since. Ezz thought I was getting cranky and needed some
food.
After
getting back, I ran around the mosque setting displays, tables,
access and signs with one of our Ramadhan stewards, Perviz Khan.
He's been spending a lot of Ramadhan stewarding at the mosque and
keeping kids in line. When he's not throwing kids into wheeley bins…er…I
mean stewarding, he likes photography. That very evening he was
off to Leicester to enjoy Diwali and take pictures of the celebrations
there.
I think
I left the mosque with enough time to pop into Asda again and pick
up some things for home and for the mosque before getting home and
wrapping a few gifts by which time I was completely knocked out
at around 3am.
Eid
morning...
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| Celebrating
Eid at Birmingham Central Mosque |
Come
morning and I was late, I was supposed to be at the mosque for 6am
but with the difficulty of getting a cab after a Friday night, I
arrived at the mosque for 6.45am.
Even
Perviz who had spent the night celebrating Diwali in Leicester was
up and rearing to go. He even looked fresh and all perked up whereas
I hadn't even groomed or woken up properly. I didn't even have my
special or religious attire on, just what I had from the night before.
Eid day went rather well though. A few problems and upsets but overall,
very well.
Before
the prayers, I sent out text messages to all of my phone contacts
wishing them a happy Eid. I got a barrage of thoughtful and celebratory
replies and then one condemning my festive greeting. I know that
individual's not getting a 'Merry Xmas' from me. Good job I don't
get offended easily, even if it was intolerance towards my religious
holiday.
Eid
at Birmingham Central Mosque...
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| Eid
prayers at Birmingham Central Mosque |
There
were five prayer services held from 8am to 12pm and lead by Shiekh
Muhammad Sultan, Hafiz Ahmed Ibrahim Patel, Shiekh Imam Muhammad
Ismail al-Rashid, Qari Aziz ur-Rehman and Imam Muhammad Qasim all
in Arabic, English, Bengali and Urdu.
The
mosque collected Fitrana (charity contribution due before Eid day)
for Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir, Iraq and Afghanistan while it
allowed Islamic relief to collect during each Eid service.
Islamic
Relief fundraiser Mohammed Jehangir rallied worshippers to give
large donations starting at £2,000 based on an initial single
donation. A local businessman who sat at the front of the main hall
pledged to double the final amount raised for the charity. The mosque
didn't financially benefit from any of the collections but the religious
reward for all was no doubt very favourable.
Eid
day was good for me ...
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| Celebrating
Eid at Birmingham Central Mosque |
Between
15,000 and 20,000 people attended Eid prayers at the city's main
mosque. Of them, I think around four people may have understood
the term 'one-way' with regards to entrances and exits.
Actually,
I shouldn't generalise, maybe it was closer to eight. At the end
of the Eid service influx, I had a coffee break, the coppers had
tea and biccies (as usual) and everyone cleaned up.
My
day ended with me walking along Alum Rock Road in Saltley dodging
crazy cars, hoards of police officers and groups of youths who seem
to have no sensible way of celebrating Eid unless it involves waving
nationalistic flags and setting cars alight.
But
I wasn't disheartened by those discourteous silly people, the day
was still good for me and that's what counts. Bring on Eid al-Adha.
In
peace
Adam
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Ramadhan
is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
