Anissa Daud of Tooting tells us how she spent her Eid weekend...

As many of you will know, Eid al-Adha (or the Sacrifice Feast) is the second festival in the Islamic year, where it marks the end of Hajj – the holy pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken by millions of Muslims across the world – whilst also being a commemoration of the Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son to God. As one of only two official holidays in Islam, Eid al-Adha is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm over three days, with men, women and children adorning themselves in their best clothing, exchanging gifts, being more charitable, and, of course, eating really great food!

At its core, Eid is a complete family and community affair. So what better way to celebrate the true essence of Eid than by sharing my own personal experience with all of you, the people of Tooting and beyond?

Each Eid experience is immensely unique, due to the sheer diversity and cultural differences between the 1.8 billion Muslims celebrating across the world.

For all of us, the excitement for Eid always starts the night before, when the family gathers together and the preparations for the next day are in full swing. For my family, this meant playing games, girls decorating their hands with henna and finalising outfits, whilst also sending (and receiving) those biannual ‘Eid Mubarak’ messages on every possible social media platform! On this night, we usually choose to retire well before midnight, in order to prepare ourselves for the rush of the coming day, especially since the Eid prayers are scheduled relatively early on in the morning.

Friday morning dawns, and thus begins Eid day! Once everyone has bathed and worn their newest and best clothes (as per the Eid ritual), it’s time for the Eid prayer. Our local mosque usually offers prayers at two times; one at 8:30 and the other at 9:30.

The structure of the prayer is always the same, as it adheres to the Sunnah (or practices) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). There are always two units of prayers that are offered, after which the Imam (leader of the congregational prayers) delivers a short sermon to the congregation. Typically, the sermon outlines the significance of Eid al-Adha, and serves as a reminder to always be thankful and positive about all that we have been blessed with.

Upon completion of the Eid prayer, those in the congregation greet and embrace, wishing each other a Happy Eid. Then comes the part we all look forward to the most – breakfast! On Eid day, this usually consists of a meat-based dish, and for us this was mince, with chappati, a true staple of any Asian household! But of course, no Eid breakfast is ever complete without sheer khurma; a sweet vermicelli pudding prepared especially for the occasion, and is served throughout the day to all guests who visit.

Once breakfast is done, it’s time for the customary exchange of gifts (also known as Eidi). When my siblings and I were younger, our Eidi was usually a mixture of toys, books and clothes. However, as we grew older and our tastes began to vary, our most eagerly anticipated gift became the small sum of money given to us by each elder of the house. By the time the gifts were exchanged, and we’d cleaned up after breakfast, it was time for Friday prayers, then took the opportunity to visit our neighbours and relatives around us to wish them a happy Eid.

Eid is one of the rare occasions when the whole family is able to come together and celebrate. Since all of us at home typically have busy and conflicting schedules, it’s always hard to find time to spend with the family, so we decided that the remainder of our Eid would be spent unwinding, and catching up with each other. But of course, is any family gathering ever complete without food? So, up went the marquee in the garden, the barbecue was lit, and we spent the rest of our evening eating, taking countless selfies and socialising.

The rest of the weekend was a continual celebration, especially since Eid is generally a three-day event. One of the main observances of Eid al-Adha is the qurbani, or sacrifice. For those who can afford to do so, this is the act of sacrificing a domestic animal (such as a cow, goat or sheep), in accordance with Islamic principles. The meat from the sacrificed animal is then divided into three parts; one third is given to family and friends; another third is donated to the poor and needy; whilst the family retains the remaining third. As the qurbani takes places after the Eid prayer , and is received by Muslims later on in the day, the second and third day of Eid is usually dedicated to distributing the meat.

So, it’s been a weekend well spent, and it has given us all the opportunity to reflect on our blessings, whilst also giving us an appreciation of the sacrifices that others undergo. All in all, it’s been a fantastic way to round off the summer holidays this year, and I’m looking forward to the next one already!

From me and mine, to you and yours, I wish you all Eid Mubarak! (albeit belated!)