By Izzud deen Redzuan
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Eid Mubarak is a day of celebration and rejoice when all people, young and old wear their best clothes. In fact, some even have a new haircut especially for this special day. People will put lights and decorations in their house. Everyone would look nice in their best dress.
After the Aidil Fitri prayer, family members will gather at home and ask for forgiveness. Yet, it is a great time for children since their parents would give them the ‘duit raya’ (Raya money). There’s joy and heart-warming feeling reflected  in their eyes.
Everyone has his or her own story to tell on how they celebrated the first day of Raya though. Thus, I have requested my friends on Facebook and Twitter to share with us their favourite or beautiful memories of their first day of Aidil Fitri.
Some stories are wonderful to read that give meaning to readers. Then there is a story that will make you laugh out loud. Hence, I share with you my favourites.
The night before Eid when I was a kid, I got into bed early while my brothers were busy helping my mom to decorate our house. The next morning my dad woke me up then I dressed up in blue Baju Melayu. The whole family wore blue like a flock of blue macaws, RIO! I love that movie. And then we went to the mosque to perform the Eid prayer where I sat with my cousins, Amar and Hussein. After that, we gathered at living room and greeted each other. My parents gave me RM250. I was so happy. Then I went to Tesco and bought a lot of ice cream and candies with my cousins. That is not all, I also ate KFC and bought toys. Eventually, in the evening I went to sleep warmly “ Atif.
JazakAllahu Khairan for sharing Atif. I bet you wont share the ice creams and candies with your cousins.
It was two or three days before the Aidil Fitri. When I was eight or nine years old, I remember my mom was telling me to remind my dad to collect our clothes from the tailor at Petaling Jaya. In the evening before breaking the fast, my dad and I went there to collect and we brought it home without seeing it first. Well you know, DAD! And today is the Eid day, I wake up early like I never did before and started to dress up. Unfortunately, the baju kurung was too short. I cried hardly, thinking of my sisters and cousins will make fun of me. Later, my mom came up with an idea that all girls will wear blouse and skirt instead of baju kurung to avoid awkwardness. Yay, my mom saved the day and my dad bought me a headband with two flowers on it, then he said, œWho says that’s a bad idea? My mom just stared at him “ Maya.
Thank you sister for sharing your story. Who said you cannot count on Dad? He bought you a beautiful headband.
I was raised up as a Roman Catholic before converting to Islam in 2011. Alhamdulillah, I found a way of life and this story is obviously not my childhood memory on Eid but it is a story of my first Eid after converting to Islam. Fasting is not a problem to me where every Ramadan I would fast together with my Muslim friends at the hostel though it is only for half a day. Glad to have them and they taught me a lot about Islam. In 2011, this was my first Aidil Fitri ever and I lived with my parents who are non-Muslims. They accepted me with my new religion and they were happy for me. One morning, my mom woke me up and reminded me that it was Eid. I was shocked and started to text my Muslim friends. They laughed at me and they told me not to miss the announcement again and count the days. So, I took a bath, then quickly dressed up, kissed my parents and jumped into Sarahs car and started the Eid tour with others. Then I found him, the end “ Muallaf.
I laughed at this, Masha Allah sister. May Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala bless you.
And one more from me,
When I was a kid, I remember waking up in the morning of Eid and immediately rushed to bathroom with my cousins. My mom gave me a new baju Melayu to put on and my dad helped me to wear ˜samping. Then we went to the mosque on the hill and I remember meeting up with my friends during Eid prayers. We played at the back of course like other kids nowadays. After the Eid sermons, I am stuck in the middle of the crowd with strangers and started to cry. My uncle on fathers side saw me and he picked me up then we went back to grandpas home. However, that morning I lived in my grandparents house on my mothers side. Suddenly, the telephone was ringing and guess who the caller was? It’s my father. He said I went missing for hours and he asked his siblings for help. Then my uncle answered with laugh, œOh, I forgot to tell you. Abah brought your kid home. My parents were relieved, my grandpa pinched my uncle as I was watching TV with my cousins.
May the blessings of Allah fill your life with happiness and open all doors of success now and always. Wish you all Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Happy Eid Mubarak and Kullu ‘am wa antum bikhair.
Photo courtesy of Ramadan 2014 quotes