Are you a new revert to Islam and do not know what to do on Eid? Or do you want to make Eid more fun for your family and build memories? This post will help you.
I was born and raised in a Muslim family, but our Eids were not as I would like my little family’s Eids to be. My parents would try their best to make it as fun as possible, but I still felt something was missing and started imagining how I would like to spend Eid with my husband and my kids once I grew up.
I would love for my family to remember our Eids as one of the best events throughout their lives. It is my job to make it as special as possible. I sat down and did a little brainstorming along with my childhood wishes.
- New Clothes for Everyone
Dress well because Allah loves beauty.
From ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radiallahu ‘anhu who said that the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “No one will enter Paradise who has an atom’s weight of pride in his heart.” A man said, “What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?” He said, “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people.” [Related by Muslim #131]
We, human beings, love to dress nicely on special occasions. That’s just how we are. Allah loves beauty. He, The Most Merciful, gave us this gift of celebration, and all we have to do is do justice to it. Everyone in the household is required to look nice. Buying new clothes just for Eid may be a fun thing you can incorporate every year.
2. Gifts
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Give each other gifts and you will love each other.” Al Bukhari
Before Eid, I make sure I arrange a budget for the gifts, and everyone gets to buy gifts for someone in the household. The more kids you have, the better it gets.
3. Decorate the House
Cleaning the house thoroughly is something I assume you already do. Decorating your house takes Eid to another level.
4. Make Sure All the Boys Go to Mosque for a Prayer Dressed Nicely!
We girls stay at home preparing breakfast and making sure our house smells delicious once the boys are back.
5. Pick Something to Cook Only for Eid
This one may seem ridiculous, but trust me, it is crucial for building memories and looking forward to Eids. I choose to bake the same cake every single year only for Eids. That is how I get my family even more excited about the upcoming event.
6. Visit/Call Your Family
If you have a chance, make sure to visit your family. Or at least call everyone on the phone. FaceTime works wonders. This one may be tricky for new reverts. However, it does not have to be awkward. Call your family over if they are cool with it, so they get the taste of Eid in your house. Give them gifts, offer them some tea, and food, and possibly explain why we celebrate Eid and what it is all about if they ask. Never push anything onto them as
“There is no compulsion in religion” The Qur’an 2:256
7. Go Out with Your Family
We always make sure we go out. Each year someone in the household gets the right to choose where we all go. We also make sure we visit a new mosque every Eid as we live in Istanbul. There are over 3000 mosques, and the number is still rising.
8. Give Charity and Gift Your Parents and Relatives
I always make sure we have cash on us when we step out of our homes on Eids. If we happen to see somebody that is in need of help I make my kid give something or my husband and I do it so my kid sees and learns from it. If there is no one asking for money we make sure we at least give some money to the mosque we are visiting that year. Also, gifting or giving money to relatives and our parents is a cultural thing and is a nice way of showing love and appreciation.
“…Truly Allah does reward the charitable.” The Qur’an – Surah Yusuf: 88
9. Have Special Game to Play with Your Kids
Picking an Eid game to play with kids builds memories and bonding takes place without us even realizing it. It does not have to be something extraordinary, but make sure you do it every year on Eids.
What do you do with your family on Eid? Do you have any suggestions that can make Eid even more memorable and fun? Please, let me know in the comment section below.
