Eid has begun and I hope that everyone are spending a beautiful time. The annual Eid gathering that is organized by the local mosque went well alhamdulillah. I was not an assisting imam this time, there was another imam than the one I’m usually working with. He had done a translation to English himself, so I could just sit back and listen. This marks the first time since I officially accepted Islam that I was enjoying the Eid celebration simply as a spectator. It is always an honor to do Khutba and I hope to do so more times inshallah, but it was equally enjoyable to just listen and to be unaware of the details of the Khutba.
The topic of the Khutba was about the importance of good relations and that we should strive to keep a good relation with our fellow muslims and avoid negative feelings. The things I heard from the imam immediately made me think of these ayat from the Quran…
سورة الحُجُرَات ٩-١٠
وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَاۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتۡ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُواْ ٱلَّتِي تَبۡغِي حَتَّىٰ تَفِيٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن فَآءَتۡ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَا بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَأَقۡسِطُوٓاْۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ
إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٞ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ
Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:9-10
If two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies, then make peace between them with justice, and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.
It was a good and interesting discussion and the imam pointed to some hadeeths of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), though I wish he had included the ayat from the Quran as well. I had to hold myself back a little from voicing these ayat haha, reminding myself that I was on the listening side this time. But he did good, and I congratulated him for his service.
I took some photos at the event…
I was wearing a shirt with words from the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish (محمود درويش).
“على هذه الأرض ما يستحق الحياة”, which means “On this earth is something worth living for.” I got some positive comments on this from some of the gathered people.
Here we can see that the place was full of activity.
I also recorded a funny Eid greeting, thinking it might appeal to children, so I shared it with the local muslim group on Whatsapp. I figured I might share it here as well. I hope it will bring a smile…
For now, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a beautiful and wonderful Eid, and hope that you are spending a good time with friends and family. Next time, we will go back to explore the questions, “how can we start to notice what makes each person unique? How can that help us on our path to Jannah?”, now that we have covered International women’s day, development in health, and the constellation Scorpio. I look forward to continue our talks, so make sure not to miss it. Eid Mubarak everyone!
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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