The last ten days of Ramadan seemed to have been a blur – I think they went by faster than the rest of the month! The university mid semester breaks are much less a holiday and more like a study or catch up week. Before University even opened I was busy with essays and preparing work for the coming week. I often feel this occupies so much of my time that I lose out but we should be using the month to learn how to bring about good balance in our lives for the rest of the year.

Tuesday night we slept early so that Wednesday night we could stay awake in prayer. The MSA was already busy organising an Eid lunch for the students that were staying in Gtown. A few of us met on the Wednesday night to pray the Qiyaam-ul-layl in congregation. We stood together at 23:00 and 03:00 for an hour each time. Some of those who have not completed their memorisation of the Holy Quran recited as well as the others who have been reciting Taraweeh. With the Qiyaam behind us we gathered in the JK kitchen and prepared a filling breakfast with the few things at our disposal.

The last Friday of Ramadan is Al-Quds Day as declared by Ayatollah Khomeini many years ago. In Cape Town (CT) it is tradition that on the last Friday of Ramadan the Jumuah khutbah is on Palestine, funds are raised and our fast is dedicated to the freedom of those who are living under oppression. This is not something compulsory, it was a mere suggestion by Khomeini in 1979 and since then the day has been commemorated. It is a practical example of a global community of Muslims that are willing to stand together with those who are oppressed. In commemoration of the day I took out my keffiyah (Palestine Scarf) and tied it on my head.

A group of us students headed to East London on Saturday as this was where we were planning on spending our Eid. Sharing supper on the eve of Eid with 12 other people gave me goosebumps. The sense of family, although a mixture of family and close friends, was tangible.

The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: Whoever stands up (in worship) in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die. (Ibn Majah). Last year while in Damascus, we spent some time at the mosque on the eve of Eid as it is common practice for them to stay up the night before Eid to pray then sleep on Eid morning. I spent my time with family and friends, catching up and helping each other with the preparation for Eid. There was loads of discussion around our experiences in Ramadan and we sat in the kitchen saddened because the month had officially ended.

In EL the Eid Salaah is held at 6:30am at a sports stadium. As I have done every year I got ready to attend the congregational prayers with the rest of the family. Some suggested that there may not be appropriate facilities for women but I suspected some arrangement would have been made. There were over 100 women and children of different race and ethnicity. About 80% of them were Somali all clothed in the same, abaya-burkha outfit. The talk before the salaah was given in both English and in Somali. The sound system did not allow for the salaah to be heard through the speakers so the brothers were asked to repeat what the Imam says in order for the rest of the congregation to hear. Alas the women were too far behind the men and we barely heard, I was later told, the beautiful recitation. While the khutbah was taking place most of the Somali women stood up and went to greet each other Somali sister, embracing each other with warmth and kindness. Some came around to greet those sitting around them in the congregation. For the remainder of the khutbah I watched as the children ran round playing on the open field while the rest sat attentively and listened.

Families meet, pack up and make their way through the crowd

Colourful meet and greet after the salaah

We organised breakfast in the backyard. For a while we sat around the table munching, chatting and receiving calls from family and friends all over the country. I have no family in East London but tagged along with the others greet and celebrate Eid. More family and friends joined us for lunch and the Eid vibes were amazing!

For the rest of the day everyone went to the beach and in the evening we again gathered for dessert and lazed around chatting for the rest of the evening. Although it is just one or perhaps two days in a year that the family is able to get together, because we are so scattered, it is loads of fun and a day I cherish it.