Cov-Eid
Eid Al-Adha is a widely celebrated Islamic holiday that Muslims around the world observe on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the last month on the Islamic Lunar Calendar. عيد(Eid) translated from Arabic means festival or celebration. The holiday is one of two that adherents of Islam celebrate for three days. The first Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. The latter Eid is towards the end of the sacred pilgrimage, Hajj, which is usually one of the most populated events in the world. This year, due to the pandemic, the Saudi government made restrictions that introduced social distancing and limited attendance to Saudi citizens.
In Islam, five pillars are the root of religion. The first is the statement of belief, then prayer, charity, obligatory fasting (i.e., Ramadan), and lastly, Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage that Muslims who are able should perform at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage entails traveling to Mecca to visit the Kaabah, inside of the Great Mosque.
The day before Eid is called the Day of Arafat. Muslims around the world who are not performing the Hajj that year are encouraged to fast. The ones who are making the Hajj go to Mount Arafat to pray and repent for the day. They spend the night on the plain of Muzfalifa and then conclude the Hajj by throwing stones at three pillars, which symbolizes stoning the devil. Finally, an animal sacrifice is made and the three-day celebration of Eid Al- Adha begins.
Eid Al-Adha is usually celebrated as a smaller Eid when, in reality, it is the more significant celebration. It is one that allows Muslims to reflect on the idea of sacrifice. The night before the festivities begin, Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting includes no food or drink. It is encouraged to fast away from worldly and materialistic things. The day focuses on reflecting wholeheartedly on the blessings bestowed on each by God.
Salma Abdallah, using a henna cone to draw intricate designs on my hand as part of the celebratory events of Eid in a time lapse video. Henna is a body art that is used in celebrations especially during Eid and weddings.
After the henna is washed off, it leaves behind a red stain. On my hand rests my class ring gifted to me by my dad and my hand sits on one of my sister’s favorite blankets.
This Eid was very different, though some things stayed the same. The night before, my younger sister did my henna with intricate designs. Waiting for it to dry without messing up my clothes is something I have not accomplished yet. After washing it off, I drove to Clifton to see my friend and break my fast. I ate dates when the sun set and got bitten by mosquitoes as we sat and talked for hours. On my drive home, I still had no clear idea of where my family was going to attend the prayer.
At the mosque, the floor is carpeted green. Due to COVID-19, the people entering the mosque were required to bring their own prayer mats to sit on the floor. There were socially distant place markers with information about the mosque and school to help regulate the rule of six feet apart.
On Eid, after praying Fajr (the dawn prayer), I ironed my new clothes, put on my favorite earrings, and picked out a scarf to wear. The night before Eid there had been a rain storm which put a wrench in the family plans to pray outdoors at Branch Brook Park. The rain was still coming down and the ground was very wet, so we decided to pray indoors at the mosque for the first time in months.
The mosques surrounding where we live followed the ordinances put in place by Gov. Murphy throughout the state so we had been unable to attend since mid-March. The entire experience was surreal. Entering the mosque and seeing people dressed in their best religious garb made me remember why I missed the mosque so much. Our temperatures were checked and we were allowed inside. For months, holy places such as the mosque had limited the number of people who could attend the prayer. The fact that for the first time in so long I would be able to participate in holiday prayer brought me a sense of joy and relief.
When I sat on the floor of the mosque, everyone was spaced six feet apart. The majority of people brought their own prayer mats in order to avoid making prostration in the same place where others might have been. The prayer began and I stood next to one of my childhood friends. After the prayer ended, we left the mosque and returned home. I felt anxious as we left, but knowing that I was with family and friends during such a holy moment had put me at ease.
My family celebrated both Islamic holidays during the pandemic. With that came new traditions, and getting doughnuts had become one of them, so I drove to pick some up from Krispy Kreme. FaceTiming my paternal aunt and grandma to wish them a happy holiday also became a habit during this time. When the call ended, I drove to my friend’s house and sat on her porch reading for the majority of the day. We ate pizza and some ice cream and continued to have a peaceful day.
Although I wish the celebratory events were on a larger scale, I am glad preventative measures were taken to prevent any spread of COVID-19.
The line at Krispy Kreme was spaced out by the new six feet apart markers. Many people, including myself, understand that this might be a new normal for a while until the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey slows down.