So lately I had reviewed a lot of books on my blog which were written by Muslim authors. Originally this post was supposed to be for Muslim authors in general but looks like our men can really become lazy or drained out during Ramadan so even though they showed interest in the interview, they never got back to me.
Anyways so my active and brilliant Muslimah authors promptly responded to my questions and here I am with a slightly different idea than what I had thought for this Eid 2016.
It was truly wonderful to get a glimpse of Muslimah authors and their Eid rituals and now here I am to share it with all my keen readers.
So keep reading ahead!
Anyways so my active and brilliant Muslimah authors promptly responded to my questions and here I am with a slightly different idea than what I had thought for this Eid 2016.
It was truly wonderful to get a glimpse of Muslimah authors and their Eid rituals and now here I am to share it with all my keen readers.
So keep reading ahead!
Sheima Salam Sumer
TBN: So sister Sheima, tell us something about you?
SSS: My name is Sheima Salam Sumer. I was born and raised in America, and my parents are originally from Afghanistan and Lebanon. I recently published a book titled, "How to be a Happy Muslim insha'Allah" and my website is www.howtobeahappymuslim.com . I offer free counseling by email and I write Islamic articles for the Islamic Online University. My husband is from Turkey and I have two children Alhamdulilllah.
TBN: What was Eid like in America as a child?
SSS: My country of origin is America. Eid is nice because women go to masjid for Eid prayer and America has Muslims from all nationalities. Eid prayer feels like a mini Hajj because you see Muslims of all backgrounds. So after praying the Eid prayer my family and I usually go out to eat breakfast at an American restaurant. There is also a carnival in a large building for the Eid day, where Muslims take their children to play games and go on rides. We also visit family and friends.
TBN: What is your most favorite part about Eid ul Fitr?
SSS: My favorite part is seeing all Muslims of different nationalities praying together as brothers and sisters.
TBN: How is your Eid different from a few years ago?
SSS: I wake up, try to eat a date as the sunnah recommends, dress in nice clothing, go to the Eid prayer, go out to eat breakfast with my family, and visit relatives and friends. I now live abroad and we often celebrate Eid in Turkey. In Turkey, the women do not attend Eid prayer and the Eid day involves just wearing new clothes and visiting friends and family.
Sheima was sweet enough to share with us some of her Eid pictures. I loved going through them and I am sure you too would.
The first picture is of Sheima and some other Muslims who are eating together all belonging to different backgrounds.
The next picture is of Sheima’s sisters’ children who are dressed up for Eid. Their father is an American who converted to Islam.
The third picture is of Sheima with some fellow Muslims and a Shaykh in America in front of an American masjid.
The last picture is of women praying the majid together. In America, it is very common for women to go to the masjid and to be active in their Muslim communities.
Hend Hegazi
TBN: Please tell us something about yourself.
HH: I was born and raised in a small town in Massachusetts. After high school I attended Smith College and graduated with a degree in Biology and a minor in religion. About a year later, I moved to Egypt to be with my husband. That was over 14 years ago. We now have four kids, Alhadmulillah. I have enjoyed writing ever since I was a child and finally decided to claim the title of author with the release of my debut novel, Normal Calm. My second novel, Behind Picket Fences, is currently available for pre-order and will be released officially on July 1.
TBN: What was Eid like in Massachusetts?
HH: There are lots of down sides to being a Muslim in a non-Muslim country, but Eid was not one of them. I was born and raised in the USA, and as a child, we were allowed to be absent from school on Eid (which as a kid was probably the best part!). My mom had prepared cookies and other homemade sweets just for Eid (although who are we kidding…we dug into those that whole last week of Ramadan as well!). She also used to buy us new outfits, so we would wake up early and put on our new clothes, then she would give us our Eid gifts. My uncle and his family would show up early in the morning, then we would all head for the mosque, often stopping to grab some donuts on the way. The closest mosque was about half-an-hour away, and the vast majority of the ride we would say takbeer, all together, in one voice. It was such a spiritual end to the holy month. At the mosque we prayed the Eid prayer, then there was usually a bazar with clothes/trinkets/food (more donuts!) and although we didn’t usually get anything, it was always nice to see the products of our fellow Muslims on display. Afterwards, we would head for brunch at a local restaurant and spend the rest of the day together as a family.
TBN: What is your most favorite part about Eid ul Fitr?
HH: At the end of our meal, my father would always make the same du’aa, which roughly translated said ‘next year may we be more and not less.’ And as a child I always found it rather strange. But now, all these years later, I think it is so important. It’s not just about numbers (although it does apply that way as well), but it is also about barakah, health, happiness, just overall goodness in our lives. Being with family, feeling that goodness, and imploring God to make us be ‘more and not less’ is what Eid is all about.
TBN: Describe your recent Eid ritual. How is it different from a few years ago?
One of the very first challenges you come across as a parent is how to do Eid for your kids. I always hoped I could give my kids the same type of Eid experience, feeling the importance of family and the blessings of the holiday. But sometimes the situations are a bit out of our hands. My kids and I spend most of our Eids at my in-laws (I now live in Egypt so we rarely get to do Eid with my parents) and for them it is, more-or-less, just a regular day with the exception that the men go to the Eid prayer in the morning. I try to make it more special for my kids and their cousins by getting them gifts, and I love to watch them tear open the wrapping paper and destroy whatever toy hides behind it. I hope that just by spending the day with family, my kids will feel the blessings of Eid and the importance of asking God to make us ‘more and not less.’
Thank you Hend Hegazi taking out time to answer my questions. My readers will appreciate it a lot.
Papatia Feuxzar
TBN: My readers had enjoyed the book reviews of The Ductrinors and Bloom. What would you like my readers to know about you?
PF: I want people to know that there is more to Papatia Feauxzar than writing steamy romance novels. I’m a devoted servant to my Creator, a challenging wife, a worried mother, a passionate food lover, and a very nice person with a snarky attitude every once in a while. Above all, I’m a very normal and down to earth person Alhamdullilah.
TBN: What is your country of origination and what was Eid like in that place?
PF: I hail from West Africa and the Eid is very festive over there. We eat well because going to the masjid on the morning of Eid ul Fitr. Our celebration clothes are usually very colorful and called boubou bazin. You could say that they are embroidered kaftans. They are also very shiny from the starch used to treat them. On the day of the Eid, men, women, and children go to the mosque for the prayer. Sacrificing a ram is not required because it is not the big Eid but many families still do and gift part of the meat to friends and relatives. It’s Lamb or Chicken on the Eid. Chicken is very expensive back home so it’s only on special occasions like the Eid that we eat. Unless, we are on the country side where my Grandma has many roosters, chicken is not on the menu every day. Anyways, after the prayers, the duas, the greetings and all that, we head home to clean the meat, receive and entertain guests, sip on sweet drinks, continue cooking with a high spirit of celebration, and eat good food.
TBN: What is your most favorite part about Eid ul Fitr?
Besides the food, I love seeing people I haven’t seen in a while. It warms my heart to be able to hug them, kiss them on the cheeks, and wish them a happy Eid.
TBN: How is your Eid different from a few years ago?
These days, my Eid is quiet and with less people. Everybody is so far away now and I’m kind of an introvert to reach out to some of my relatives in the same city these days because of mahram issues. That said, I still have a good time because I get a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment from the things I do during the Eid. I take it as preparation for the day where my nuclear family will double or triple haha!
I try to make Eid decorations ahead of time along with the gifts. And on the day of the Eid with my nuclear family, I shower after the fajr prayer and wear my African clothes. I cook a big brunch and I give out gifts to the baby and the hubby. I wish a happy Eid to my relatives and friends via phone or text message. I also visit the ones I can later on during the day.
This Eid Papatia Feauxzar inspired me to do some of my own Eid decoations for the first time. You ought to check out her beautiful Eid decoration pictures.
TBN: My readers had enjoyed the book reviews of The Ductrinors and Bloom. What would you like my readers to know about you?
PF: I want people to know that there is more to Papatia Feauxzar than writing steamy romance novels. I’m a devoted servant to my Creator, a challenging wife, a worried mother, a passionate food lover, and a very nice person with a snarky attitude every once in a while. Above all, I’m a very normal and down to earth person Alhamdullilah.
TBN: What is your country of origination and what was Eid like in that place?
PF: I hail from West Africa and the Eid is very festive over there. We eat well because going to the masjid on the morning of Eid ul Fitr. Our celebration clothes are usually very colorful and called boubou bazin. You could say that they are embroidered kaftans. They are also very shiny from the starch used to treat them. On the day of the Eid, men, women, and children go to the mosque for the prayer. Sacrificing a ram is not required because it is not the big Eid but many families still do and gift part of the meat to friends and relatives. It’s Lamb or Chicken on the Eid. Chicken is very expensive back home so it’s only on special occasions like the Eid that we eat. Unless, we are on the country side where my Grandma has many roosters, chicken is not on the menu every day. Anyways, after the prayers, the duas, the greetings and all that, we head home to clean the meat, receive and entertain guests, sip on sweet drinks, continue cooking with a high spirit of celebration, and eat good food.
TBN: What is your most favorite part about Eid ul Fitr?
Besides the food, I love seeing people I haven’t seen in a while. It warms my heart to be able to hug them, kiss them on the cheeks, and wish them a happy Eid.
TBN: How is your Eid different from a few years ago?
These days, my Eid is quiet and with less people. Everybody is so far away now and I’m kind of an introvert to reach out to some of my relatives in the same city these days because of mahram issues. That said, I still have a good time because I get a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment from the things I do during the Eid. I take it as preparation for the day where my nuclear family will double or triple haha!
I try to make Eid decorations ahead of time along with the gifts. And on the day of the Eid with my nuclear family, I shower after the fajr prayer and wear my African clothes. I cook a big brunch and I give out gifts to the baby and the hubby. I wish a happy Eid to my relatives and friends via phone or text message. I also visit the ones I can later on during the day.
This Eid Papatia Feauxzar inspired me to do some of my own Eid decoations for the first time. You ought to check out her beautiful Eid decoration pictures.
Hafsa Zarnab
TBN: Hafsa I had truly enjoyed your book Clay. My readers would like to know more about you.
HZ: My name is Hafsa Zarnab. I am a student at Jinnah Sindh Medical University, but mind you! I still do not know anything about medicine. I love experimenting with make-up, writing free-handedly, watching movies and listening to rock and vocal trance genres in music. Basically, I haven’t phased out of my teenage years.
TBN: What is your country of origination and what was Eid like in that place?
HZ: Despite the fact I live in Pakistan (and sincerely call it my homeland), my country of origination is India.
Years prior to the partition of the subcontinent, Eid ul Fitr used to be a simple and modest festivity. Rich or poor, everyone would clothe themselves with clean (if not brand new) attire. Branded or designer wear was a thing unheard of. Men from all walks of life, young or old, would go to the largest congregations of Salat al Eid. Women would await the arival of the familial men with traditional, edible delicacies like Shirkhuma and various other Mithaai.
TBN: How far different is your Eid now?
HZ: The fundamental rituals of Eid ul Fitr have been pretty much the same throughout the centuries. The payment of Fitra ( i.e. charity worth 2.5% of your annual income), Congregational prayer for men at their local Eidgahs, reception of token money (referred to as Eidi) from elder relatives and acquaintances and traditional feasts have been common practices of the occasion.
Belonging to a Gujarati family from Surat, India, Eid ul Fitr has been a little more than just donning new clothes and shoes for me. Everyone in the household wakes up with the Azan for Fajr. When our men return from the congregational prayers, the family gathers for a traditional brunch at the house of the eldest son of the family (in our case, my father). Brunch consists of three or four different savory platters, inluding chickens stuffed with eggs and potatoes (referred to as Akhhi Murghi), and two or three different kinds of Gujarati dessert.
TBN: What is your most favorite part about Eid?
HZ: My favorite part of Eid is the family reunion for a dinner on the third day of Eid, that my family and I refer to as the ‘Eid Milan Party’. It is hosted by my father at a local dine-in restaurant.
Thank you so much Hafsa for your precious time. My readers and I appreciate it a lot.
TBN: Hafsa I had truly enjoyed your book Clay. My readers would like to know more about you.
HZ: My name is Hafsa Zarnab. I am a student at Jinnah Sindh Medical University, but mind you! I still do not know anything about medicine. I love experimenting with make-up, writing free-handedly, watching movies and listening to rock and vocal trance genres in music. Basically, I haven’t phased out of my teenage years.
TBN: What is your country of origination and what was Eid like in that place?
HZ: Despite the fact I live in Pakistan (and sincerely call it my homeland), my country of origination is India.
Years prior to the partition of the subcontinent, Eid ul Fitr used to be a simple and modest festivity. Rich or poor, everyone would clothe themselves with clean (if not brand new) attire. Branded or designer wear was a thing unheard of. Men from all walks of life, young or old, would go to the largest congregations of Salat al Eid. Women would await the arival of the familial men with traditional, edible delicacies like Shirkhuma and various other Mithaai.
TBN: How far different is your Eid now?
HZ: The fundamental rituals of Eid ul Fitr have been pretty much the same throughout the centuries. The payment of Fitra ( i.e. charity worth 2.5% of your annual income), Congregational prayer for men at their local Eidgahs, reception of token money (referred to as Eidi) from elder relatives and acquaintances and traditional feasts have been common practices of the occasion.
Belonging to a Gujarati family from Surat, India, Eid ul Fitr has been a little more than just donning new clothes and shoes for me. Everyone in the household wakes up with the Azan for Fajr. When our men return from the congregational prayers, the family gathers for a traditional brunch at the house of the eldest son of the family (in our case, my father). Brunch consists of three or four different savory platters, inluding chickens stuffed with eggs and potatoes (referred to as Akhhi Murghi), and two or three different kinds of Gujarati dessert.
TBN: What is your most favorite part about Eid?
HZ: My favorite part of Eid is the family reunion for a dinner on the third day of Eid, that my family and I refer to as the ‘Eid Milan Party’. It is hosted by my father at a local dine-in restaurant.
Thank you so much Hafsa for your precious time. My readers and I appreciate it a lot.
Saadia Faruqi
TBN: Tell us something about you?
SF: I am a Pakistani American writer, mother of two elementary school children and currently residing in Houston, TX. Recently I published a short story collection called Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan.
TBN: What is your country of origination and what was Eid like in that place?
SF: Eid was low key in families, and women mostly did not attend Eid prayers at the mosque. The real fun for Eid for us kids started the night before when we got our hands decorated with henna. On Eid day the fun was in the special programming on television, the gifts we got from our elders, and the delicious foods our mother made. We also went visiting, so we saw relatives we never usually saw during the year. It was a lot of fun.
TBN: What is your favorite part of Eid?
SF: Favorite part of Eid currently is attending Eid prayers. I find it more spiritual than fun now.
TBN: Would you mind describing your current Eid ritual and how is it different from a few years ago?
SF: Eid ritual: waking up, getting dressed, going to the mosque for prayers, then returning home to spend time with family. Eid in the U.S. is very different from Pakistan because there are no relatives to visit and Eid is over much faster. My ritual has changed in the last few years now that my daughter is old enough to enjoy Eid. We now put henna on her hands, shop for clothes and accessories for her, and I see her having some of the fun I used to have as a child on Eid.
Thank you so much Saadia Faruqi for your precious time. My readers will really appreciate it.
TBN: Tell us something about you?
SF: I am a Pakistani American writer, mother of two elementary school children and currently residing in Houston, TX. Recently I published a short story collection called Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan.
TBN: What is your country of origination and what was Eid like in that place?
SF: Eid was low key in families, and women mostly did not attend Eid prayers at the mosque. The real fun for Eid for us kids started the night before when we got our hands decorated with henna. On Eid day the fun was in the special programming on television, the gifts we got from our elders, and the delicious foods our mother made. We also went visiting, so we saw relatives we never usually saw during the year. It was a lot of fun.
TBN: What is your favorite part of Eid?
SF: Favorite part of Eid currently is attending Eid prayers. I find it more spiritual than fun now.
TBN: Would you mind describing your current Eid ritual and how is it different from a few years ago?
SF: Eid ritual: waking up, getting dressed, going to the mosque for prayers, then returning home to spend time with family. Eid in the U.S. is very different from Pakistan because there are no relatives to visit and Eid is over much faster. My ritual has changed in the last few years now that my daughter is old enough to enjoy Eid. We now put henna on her hands, shop for clothes and accessories for her, and I see her having some of the fun I used to have as a child on Eid.
Thank you so much Saadia Faruqi for your precious time. My readers will really appreciate it.