Lautoka family to Mark Eid with Extended Family
Celebrating Eid this year will be different for Dr Nadem Farooq and his family in Lautoka. After two years of COVID-19 restrictions, families would be able to gather to mark Eid.
Dr Nadeem Farooq and his family are excited to host the special function as preparations are planned for Eid.
Eid al-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of the month-long fasting of Ramadan.
The celebration also marks a time of joy and blessing for the Muslim community and a time of distributing one’s wealth.
Dr Farooq is originally from Karachi in Pakistan but migrated to Fiji in 1999.
He is currently a practitioner at the Ba Medical Center. Dr Farooq said his family are excited to celebrate Eid al-Fitr this year.
Dr Farooq said preparations for Eid al-Fitr began weeks ahead because this year celebration will be different.
“Last year we could not gather to celebrate Eid al-Fitr because of COVD-19 restrictions,” he said.
“This year, relatives are looking forward to coming home and celebrating Eid al-Fitr because it is a good time to come together as a family and mark the special occasion.”
Part of Eid al-Fitr celebrations, families prepare food, sweets and make donations to the less fortunate.
The significance of this is reflected in the teachings of the holy Quran which encourages families about the importance of empathy, care, and concern through the act of sacrifice.
As one of the pillars of Islam, Zakat is a form of charity which Muslims believe purifies, increases and blesses the remainder of their wealth.
“We also clean our house, buy some new clothes for the family, buy some jewelries and prepare sweets and food that we can also donate to the less fortunate.
“A certain percentage of our income is also donated to the poor. This tradition is called Zakat which is a form of almsgiving collected by the Muslim Ummah or community.
“Fitrana is a charitable donation of food that must be given before Eid prayer, before the end of the month of Ramadan, for the love of Allah (SWT).
He said Eid al-Fitr was also a time for families to spend more time together and reflect on the religious teachings to forgive and seek forgiveness.