Eid Al Fitr

Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fitr means “to break the fast”;

and so the holiday symbolises the breaking of the fasting period.
It is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and upon sighting of the new crescent moon which signals the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

It is a joyous occasion for all Muslims.

It is a time when Muslims give thanks for the blessings they have received from Allah, celebrated the victory of the forces of good over evil, and forgive their neighbours for old grudges and ill feelings. It is also a time for spreading peace, sharing with others and giving thanks for completing another period of fasting for the month of Ramadan.

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WoW! Its my 3rd year of celebrating Eid here in the UAE :)
It seems like yesterday, when I first saw BAGONG BUWAN (new crescent moon which signals the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan)...
and here I am again, joining the Muslim people in commemorating this joyous occasion.

Yes. I am joining them, not for the long weekend... but in prayers... and in faith...
This is the best time to give thanks... to forgive... to be healed... to share love and spread peace.

And isnt it even non-muslims can do it?

We can all join them.
Christians and Muslims can always be united in prayers...

I am sure that we are all hoping for peace.
To have a better world where our children and grand children can enjoy their freedom.
Together, we are hoping for an economic stability, that we can live life with less pressure.
We are all praying for happiness... for ourselves and our family.
Everybody wants a life without an enemy. nobody loves war... it only happens when people were not treated fairly...

We are both calling God, maybe in different names, but what's important is that we have faith in Him.
We may be divided through different teachings... language... customs and traditions, but still,we share the same world... we have the same hope... we pray with all our faith and we know there is God that listens.

EID MUBARAK!

Eid Al Adha

i was quiet for the last 5 days...
it's because we were on holidays for the Eid Al Adha.

The Festival of Sacrifice

Festival HistoryEid al-Adha lasts for three days and commemorates Ibraham's willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son, Ishmael. Ishmael is considered the forefather of the Arabs. According to the Koran, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead. The feast re-enacts Ibrahim's obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram. This feast is shared with the family and the remainder is donated to the poor.
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the last 5 days (3 days holiday + weekend) was not spent the way you think it was.
we didnt had a holiday.
we were given a notice to leave the room that we are renting... for some personal reasons, and we dont have any other choice but to leave.

we looked forward to this long holiday. even had plans for jordan trip...

but it didnt turned out as a what is expected. forget the travel... but more than sleeping & eating, we spent more time outside, walking, looking for a new place. thank God it's winter :)

during those days & nights, we were so stressed. even though of going home... almost wanted to quit. aside from the not so presentable spaces... the rent was so expensive.
admittedly, our spirit were so low... we want to think of something good but during those times, none comes to my mind.

not until yesterday... when one of our neighbors accompanied me in searching. after the morning jogging, i showed them my choice, the only good space, i thought... but it was a NO! NO! to them. we checked out somewhere else, and that fits in!!!
we went again in the afternoon to check and finalized everything :)
we are moving this weekend.

it wasnt the best, but i know its what God has prepared for us. so, its more than the best!!!

we all could wish that we found it on atleast the first 2 days of the previous holiday... or even on the third day, so we still have 2 days arranging the things, but again, it didnt.

it wasnt late. i know it was the best timing... God's time is always the perfect time.

we didnt enjoy the holiday as everybody else did, but i believe that what we've been through these pass days was at least our share of sacrifice...
after all, that is the purpose of the Eid.

Bagong Buwan

parang kailan lang nang huli kong masilayan ang pagsibol ng bagong buwan...

ang pagtatapos ng Ramadan...

Panibagong buhay at pag-asa ang hatid nito, hindi lamang sa mga Muslim... kundi sa lahat ng taong naka-saksi ng bagong liwanag...

at kasama kami dun.

si ernan... ako... si ericson...

hindi namin alam ang malalim na dahilan at paniniwala ng mga Muslim sa Eid, tanda ito ng pagtatapos ng kanilang isang buwang pag-aalay ng sakripisyo upang maging kaayaya sa kay Allah...

hindi ko alam kung tama ba ito.

pero isang bagay ang tiyak na alam ko...

kung paanong kahit magkakaiba ng paniniwala at pananampalataya ang mga tao ay may iisang pananalig pa rin sa nasa Itaas...

at ang pananalig na ito ang nagbibigay lakas at pag-asa sa bawat isa.

dumating ako dito sa dubai, unang araw ng Ramadan...

malas daw ako, dahil marami ng bawal dito sa ganung panahon.

malungkot daw. mahigpit.

mahirap makanahap ng trabaho.

pero para sa akin...

mas magandang nakita kong una ang malungkot na bahagi ng lugar na pinuntahan ko...

mas magandang maranasan ko kung gaano kahigpit ang batas ng bansang ito...

mas mainam na magkaroon ako ng takot at disiplina sa unang pagtungtong ko pa lamang sa kanilang teritoryo...

at maranasan ko ang hirap na walang tumatawag sa lahat ng pinadalhan ko ng application dahil sa wala ang mga boss dito...

sa panahong ito...

nakaramdam ako ng lungkot. takot. pagka inip.

minsang ring sumagi sa akin ang kawalan ng pag asa...

pero un ang aral ng Ramadan...

ang pag sasakripisyo.

ang pag titiis.

at ang pagkakaroon ng pag-asa...

dahil pagtapos ng lahat ng ito...

lalabas din ang bagong buwan.