How to Celebrate Eid al-Adha During a Pandemic
My family and community try to find the lesson in everything we experience. During this global pandemic, we've all faced challenges and made sacrifices. From school closings and job losses to demands for social justice, 2020 has been a roller coaster of emotion and activity. This time has given me new perspective on what it means to sacrifice. We have all made sacrifices these past few months, both big and small. So many have lost so much this year that it’s helped remind me of the value and importance of family and tradition. To still have my family and health intact is a true blessing and gift that I'll be forever grateful for, making it even more important and essential to celebrate holidays like Eid al-Adha during this time.
Eid al-Adha (Celebration of the Sacrifice) is one of two annual holidays observed by millions of Muslims worldwide. The holiday commemorates the story of Prophet Abraham’s sacrifice and coincides with completion of Hajj (the pilgrimage Muslims make to Mecca). To me, the holiday represents tradition, commemoration, charity, sacrifice, and gratitude. Eid al-Adha is celebrated over the course of three days, traditionally observed by dressing in one’s best clothes, attending an early morning congregational prayer at the local mosque, followed by large community festivals, gift giving, family gatherings, and sharing meals.
This year, as we're in the midst of a global pandemic, Eid celebrations look a bit different. However, there is so much to be grateful for as we reflect on the sacrifices of the past. With restrictions on large gatherings and stay-at-home orders still in place, the celebration of Eid al-Fitr (a celebration of the end of Ramadan's month of dawn-to-sunset fasting back in June), required lots of creativity. Many communities held “drive by” celebrations hosted by local mosques. Volunteers handed out care packages, toys, and even meals to families as they pulled up at the mosque. In addition to hosting the drive-by celebration, members of our community here in Maryland held the first-ever “Eid parade.” Members decorated their cars and organized a processional that made stops at community members' homes to drop off toys and gifts. This was a fun way to keep in the spirit of the celebration while practicing social distancing.
Since Eid al-Adha follows the completion of the annual Hajj where Muslims spend days performing acts of worship, Muslims worldwide mirror this, incorporating more acts of prayer and worship during these special days at home. As the pilgrims gather for Hajj millions of miles away, we celebrate their completion, reflect on the journey and share stories with those who have completed the pilgrimage before. We also reflect on the magnitude of everything that’s happened this year. The holiday that is typically communal can be quite introspective and more about developing one’s relationship with God. I’ve actually found that the more intimate setting due to social distancing truly allows us to reflect on the spirit and purpose of the holiday. It’s enabled me to find joy in the small things. I’m grateful for the personal growth and introspection this time has provided, as we are encouraged to make sacrifices in our daily lives for our families and to better our communities and ourselves. To dig deep and lean into one’s faith during uncertain times.
This year, instead of attending the large festivals and celebrates, my family welcomes Eid al-Adha at home. We still get dressed up, as it’s a tradition the kids have grown to love. Instead of praying with hundreds, we pray with family at home. However, some traditions, like decorating the house and giving gifts, will not change. Despite the challenging times, we are making the most of it. I’ve actually found great sources for Eid decor online, and the kids really enjoy getting the house Eid ready, as well.
One of the great things about this time is all the things we’ve rediscovered that, perhaps with our busy lifestyle, we were too preoccupied to take advantage of before. We have a great outdoor space that’s perfect for entertaining. So instead of decorating inside, we'll move the festivities outdoors. Then, we'll have a huge breakfast following the prayer and open gifts. The kids love crafting and have made homemade Eid cards that will accompany gifts we’ll deliver to family and friends. Then, we conclude the day with a delicious meal: a mix of traditional foods and family favorites.
We all miss some of the traditional ways in which we observe Eid al-Adha, but as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Use this unprecedented time to think of innovative ways we can keep traditions alive while coming up with a few new ones too. Although we may not be able to host gatherings, we have to find new ways to create a sense of comfort during these uncertain times. This year, I participated in an online gift-giving group. Each participant created a wishlist on Amazon and shared the link to their list within the group. Participants could then purchase items off of each other’s lists. The group size grew from around 50 to over 2,200 participants in a matter of days. It proved to be a really fun way to brighten someone’s day and be charitable. This creative idea allowed Muslim women from all over the country to exchange gifts and get to know one another in a unique way.
Setting up a zoom call to have “Eid dinner” with another family, creating small care packages to drop off to community seniors, hosting a family craft night, and making Eid greeting cards are also fun ways to get in the holiday spirit.
As we increase prayers and acts of charity for this holiday, I’m also reminded to keep the faith as we go through this unprecedented time. I am finding peace knowing that the chaos that the pandemic has created has also created a sense of commitment to taking stock of ourselves and how we can be and do better as a society.
As a person of faith, I enter the holiday season with a sense of renewed faith and gratitude. There is a quote in the Quran that says, “Verily, God never fails to fulfill his promise." As we commemorate this Hajj and holiday season, although we may be far from Mecca, I believe that the mercy God shows us is near. We just have to keep the faith.
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