Dad ,can we call at the eatery? The worms in my stomach are at work,Afnan asks.
We will when we get the nearby eatery and order bread for takeout in case you get hungry before we get home,Abu Ammar, who doesn't like to hear any of his children hungry responds.
Abu Ammar and family were on their way to their hometown to celebrate their Eid.
Eid during this period us known as Ileya.
Ileya is always that time for reunion,it's that period everyone goes home to meet their parents and unite with extended families after months or years away.
This time everyone packs for the journey with enthusiasm and excitement,from clothes well ironed ,to shoes well packed,foodstuffs for a happy stay
The road is always congested during this period as all ways lead to home.
Abu Ammar ,with some of the males in the family, Ammar being the eldest, Yaasir,Umair, and Sufyan goes in the same SUV ,alongside Afnan ,the baby girl in the family.
Allahu Akbar llahu Akbar llahu Allah, La ilaha illa llah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Walillahi l hamd....Abu Ammar and family echoe this as they journey to their home.
This is the sunnah of the prophet to recite the Takbeer and a lot of dhikr during the first days of Dhul hijjah.
Abu Ammar increases the speed so they can get to the eatery on time .....Afnan, who wouldn't stop asking questions, sits with Ammar but later sits in front of her dad,placing her little hands on the steering arm of the vehicle.
Dad ? She calls
Yes,strawberry, her dad responds
Why do we slaughter Rrrrrrrams,elongating the "R" and Cows in Eid-ul-Adha, and we don't during Eid-ul Fitr? Afnan asks after asking questions on random things she comes across on the journey.
Afnan ....in a fun way ,her dad answers.
Let Yaasir answer the question,her dad says.
Yaasir ,who was engrossed in his favourite reciter's,Abdullah Matroud recitation of the Qur'an the whole time is tapped,he put his headset on his neck to pay attention to Afnan's question.
Afnan repeats the question ….
With a smile ,Yaasir admires his younger sister's curiosity to want to know more about her religion at a tender age.
That's a beautiful question, Afnan. He says.
Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr are two very special celebrations in Islam, but they are for different reasons.
Afnan puts her two hands on her chin, ready to listen to Yaasir's explanation.
Eid-ul-Fitr
This Eid comes at the end of Ramadan, the holy month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It is a celebration of completing the fasting. On Eid-ul-Fitr, Muslims:
Pray together
Dress nicely
Visit family and friends
Give charity to the poor (called Zakat al-Fitr)
We don’t slaughter animals on Eid-ul-Fitr because it’s a celebration of fasting and being thankful to Allah for giving us the strength to finish Ramadan.
🐏 Eid-ul-Adha
This Eid is also called the Festival of Sacrifice. It comes during the time of Hajj (the pilgrimage to Makkah), and it reminds us of a very important story about Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.).
Long ago, Allah told Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail (A.S.), to show his obedience. But when he was about to do it, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram instead. It was a test—and Prophet Ibrahim passed!
Yaasir recites the verse that talks about the story, in Surah As-Saffat 37:102–107
قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
"[Ismail] said, 'O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me if Allah wills, of the patient.'"
فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ
"And when they had both submitted [to Allah] and he put him down upon his forehead..."
Yaasir reads to the end of the verse of the story.
So, to remember this great act of faith, Muslims slaughter an animal (like a ram, sheep, goat, cow, or camel) during Eid-ul-Adha. It shows our love and obedience to Allah, just like Prophet Ibrahim.
I want to be like Ibrahim(A.S) so I can be Allah's friend and Ismail(A.S), too who was obedient to Allah through his father,Afnan says in excitement.
That's the spirit ,Afnan,Yaasir affirms.
You'll be Allah's friend if you decide to not grumble when mum sends you errands or sis Zakiyyah. You should always see it as obedience to Allah through them except if they tell you to associate partner with Allah. Yaasir says
May Allah bless you, bro Yaasir and my Dad for telling him to explain to me.Afnan prats.
And everyone,her dad, includes.
Ammar and every other person who has been enjoying the silence from Afnan say in chorus "Aameeen".
Abu Ammar puts the car to halt at the parking lot of the eatery, and they all alighted.
Abu Ammar calls his women who went in the other vehicle to meet them at the eatery .
Afnan, who was now at the front, jumps with excitement......ouch my stomach growls.
In the spirit of A'rafah, let's keep chanting La ilaha illa llah wahdahu la shareekalah lahu mulk wa lahu l hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shayhin Qadiir.
Jazakumullahu khayran for reading UR'S Thursday Journal.
Till I write to you again,
I leave you in the care of my Lord.
UR♡
Well done baby girl. you neve cease to amaze me with your wonderful story writing skill. KEEP IT UP.
No period like Ileya!✨🤭🥹