This morning the atmosphere was one joy tinged with sorrow. Ramadan had come to an end, and it was the morning of Eid-ul-Fitr. As we prepared to pray Fajr, a sense of quiet calm and serenity seemed to fill the air as the feeling of contentment fell over me. Algamdoelillah for moments like these.

My very first Eid and I would be spending it with my new family and friends. Muallimah arranged with the local Muslim women’s group for all the new Muslim sisters and those who had no family to provide gifts and treats and to invite them to their homes for the day. It was a way of meeting fellow Muslims and also being accepted into the community. Imam did the same for the males.

With the last few days of Ramadan taking up much of my time, I hadn’t seen Mum for a few days. Fatima and Umme thought it would be good to have her spend the day with the other ladies visiting. So I called Mum to invite her.

The apartment smelt of sweetmeats and biryani, and my taste buds were in overdrive. Umme had been preparing her lovely sweet treats over the week even though she couldn’t enjoy them. Fatima and I were impatiently waiting to taste them.

Fatima and I had bought Umme a lovely outfit when we had shopped for our own. It was a sunnah to wear your best clothes on Eid day, new or old. It was an absolute pleasure to watch her pretty, plump face light up when we presented it to her. She even showed it to her son during their last Skype call.

There would also be a communal Eid gathering at the masjid for the less fortunate families. Many families prepared a grand feast to be shared with at the masjid, and we had volunteered to assist with feeding the little ones.

There would be no Eid gathering at the masajid today for the Eid prayer due to the COVID-19 restrictions, but we followed the prayer online. Fatima switched on the telly to allow me a glimpse of the Eid prayer in the Holy city of Makkah, and I was filled with a longing to be there. In sha Allah, I will ask Allah to allow me the opportunity to spend a Ramadan in the holy lands.

Eid is a day of celebration and happiness, algamdoelillah.

My Name is Sam, and this is my first Eid, an Eid that I will treasure for years to come. This year I have found Allah in everything I have done, and with that, life has given me contentment.

With the right attitude comes gratitude.

Eid Mubarak, taqalAllahu minna wa minkum.