Eid Al Fitr holidays: Prayers, family visits and football
Residents take time to visit family members, but many stay indoors due to the summer heat
Abu Dhabi, Dubai: Eid prayers and thanksgiving as well as family traditions came first for thousands of residents as they welcomed the first day of Eid Al Fitr on Friday, marking the completion of the 29-day fasting month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal.
Muslim residents shuffled quietly into mosques across the country for the morning Eid prayers.
A man prays at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai ( By:Clint Egber/Gulf News)
Many went home straight after prayers to spend time with family.
Others picked up sweets and drove to visit family and friends to exchange Eid greetings and gifts.
We had our family celebration at home after the Eid prayer. During lunch, we had an aqiqah (Muslim baptism) for a baby boy in the family.”
For Roy Tamano and family, the celebration was simple yet memorable.
Worshippers perform the Eid Al Fitr prayer at Al Noor Mosque at Buhairah Corniche in Sharjah (By: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News)
“We had our family celebration at home after the Eid prayers. During lunch, we had an aqiqah (Muslim baptism) for a newborn baby boy in the family,” Tamano, who works in Sharjah, told Gulf News.
“It’s a significant day for us to perform this tradition as a family on Eid Al Fitr,” Tamano said.
Some residents preferred to stay home to avoid the midday heat and to welcome friends dropping in for a visit.
Airin Usman, a Filipina accountant, said she and her husband usually head to the beach after Eid prayers, weather permitting.
Non-Muslims took advantage of the holiday as well and headed to the Northern Emirates for a respite from the heat.
Ryan Thomas Namia said he went to Ras Al Khaimah with friends and went crabbing by evening.
The football World Cup fever gripped many revellers on Friday.
It’s a double special day for us because of Eid and Egypt’s World Cup match. We watched the game live and cheered for our country … We are happy to be together as a family.”
The popular sport telecast from Russia took over their afternoon as they waited for sunset.
Tamer Al Sawy, from Egypt, was no exception.
People buying sweets for Eid at Butt’s Sweet shop on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi (By: Abdul Rahaman/Gulf News)
The Abu Dhabi resident said Eid Al Fitr was even more special because of Egypt’s World Cup match falling on the same day.
“It’s a double special day for us because of the Eid and Egypt’s World Cup match. We watched the game live and cheered for our country…,” Al Sawy said, adding they went shopping after to take advantage of the 24-hour sale.
People meet and greet each other after the early morning prayer at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai (BY: Clint Egbert/Gulf News)
“We are happy to be together as a family, that’s what Eid is about. You have to spend it with your loved ones.”
My family is back home in India and so I spent the occasion with my friends. We started the day with Eid prayer and went out after that. We went to shopping malls and visited the Corniche for the evening fireworks show.”
Other residents in downtown Abu Dhabi welcomed the Eid Al Fitr holiday by spending time with friends as their families are overseas. Mohammad Shahnawaz, from India, was one of them.
“My family is back home in India and so I spent the occasion with my good and close friends. We started the day with the morning Eid prayers and went out after that. We went to shopping malls and visited the Corniche for the evening fireworks show,” he said.
“All of us are so grateful, we just finished 29 days of Ramadan fasting, and so we are very happy and want to celebrate. The Eid is a time to be with your friends so you can share the joy together,” he said.
I went out with my friends on the first day of Eid. On Saturday, we are going to visit Dubai. We are usually busy because of work and so Eid is a good time for us to catch up. We have two days of holiday so we are going to enjoy it as much as we can.”
Residents buying sweets at a Pakistani sweets and bakery outlet in Sharjah (BY: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News)
Wahid Rahman, from Pakistan, said his plans for both days were already set.
“I went out with my friends on the first day of Eid, and then on Saturday we are going to visit Dubai. We are usually busy because of work and so Eid is a good time for us to catch up. We have two days of holiday so we are going to enjoy it as much as we can.”
