EID 2019 – Celebrating Eid With Nigerian Muslims

EID Mubarak to all Muslims and may Allah SWT continue to bless and protect us from all evil.

Recently, I proposed a blogpost on my Instagram to write about Eid experiences for Nigerian Muslims. I had good memories of spending Eid with loved ones, eating as well as spreading love and feeding the neighbourhood. They were indeed celebratory periods and I figured different Muslims from all parts of the world would have their stories to tell too, hence the proposal. Some Muslim women decided to share their Eid experiences, Read along:

INTERVIEW WITH RUFAI LATEEFAH

• Tell us about yourself.

I’m Rufai Lateefah, a Sociology student of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. I’m in my early 20s and I’m into a number of things. I make and customize tote bags, I also sew nice wears for women. You can check us out at @weareuc_ on Instagram. I write too, but I’m currently working on commercializing my writing skills. I’m a playful person, I love people who understand sarcasm, are optimistic and are self efficacious.

•  What does Eid mean to you?

Eid means a lot to me. It goes beyond the holiday or celebration. To me, Eid is a time to fully utilize the love which we’ve been sharing all through the year. A time to sit in a circle with your loved ones and savor the celebration.

• What’s your ideal Eid outfit?

I don’t have an ideal Eid outfit but I do love to always keep it modest. Whatever it is you would be wearing, ensure it is modest since we know Eid entails some form of worship to Allah. You could shuffle between an abaya, a dress or an Ankara. But whatever your Eid outfit would be, make sure it’s something that wont get in your way,  I mean during the cooking and serving. Or better still, you can have two Eid outfits, wear your flowing and elegant dress to the prayer ground, then when you get home, you can change into a minimal Eid outfit. Do not forget to snap enough pictures with your main Eid outfit, lol. And do not forget about comfortability, because what’s fashion without comfortability?

• Give us a summary of how you usually spend Eid.

My Eid routine is quite simple and stressing. From waking up in the morning, to getting dressed for the Eid prayer, because you wont want dad leaving you behind. When we get back home, we join our mum and other relatives in getting the meals ready. Btw, ‘we’ here, means my sisters and I. And my dad is a very popular man in our neighborhood, so we get lot of visitors. That’s where the stress comes in. But its always worth it though, cause you get to see someone you haven’t seen in a long time. That’s always my routine every Eid.

• What’s your favorite thing to do on Eid?

It would definitely be sitting with my phone and power bank, surfing Twitter and Instagram. Getting to see Eid outfits and beautiful pictures as they swim in. But then, I get disturbed. Another favorite thing for me on Eid is eating that Nigerian Jollof rice with nicely fried ram.

• Your best Eid experience?

My best Eid experience was many years ago. I dont remember how long it’s been precisely. We always travel to my grandmaternal home for Eid. So this day, we went with public transport. My mum and I. We got home late at night, Lagos traffic wahala. And on getting there, our luggage was switched. My Eid outfits were in that bag 😢😢 It was not funny. The other person went away with our bag, and we took his. His bag was filled with foodstuffs. And the following day is Eid. But thank God for being God, the next morning, the person brought our bag. My mum’s office file was in the bag, so her info was written on the file. That was how he located us. Then I got back my clothes 😆.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

I wish everyone a joyous Eid and do not forget to spread love and happiness this Eid and beyond. Pick up the phone, call that long time friend or relative. Extend loving hands to the less privileged every time you are opportuned to do that. And I pray Allah ease our difficulties. Ameen.

INTERVIEW WITH AASIAH SOLANKE

• Tell us about yourself.

Salam alaykum, my name is Aasiah Solanke. I am a physiotherapist and the founder/ creative director of @leatherfy on IG (A leatherwork accessory brand that produces aesthetically pleasing, practical and functional leather goods). Also, I write about Personal development, financial literacy and mindset shifts on my blog, beautiful soul empowered.

•  What does Eid mean to you?

Eid to me, is a time to rejoice with family and friends whilst enjoying nice meals and wearing my best cloth. A time to eat, feast, merry and count my blessings.  It’s also a chance to bring pleasure and happiness to people around me and share the beauty of Islam.

• What’s your ideal Eid outfit?

My ideal eid outfit sways between Abaya (preferably black) and Traditional (Ankara or lace). It’s always nice to have a bit of drama on the sleeves. Most times, I tend to use Abayas for eid ul fitr and traditional for eid ul adha. For Hijabs, It depends on the cloth but generally, I prefer neutral/earthy toned colors. For shoes, I always feel uneasy on stiletto heels, so I go for block heels or wedge shoes.

• Give us a summary of how you usually spend Eid.

Typically, I wake up to my parents making phone calls, greeting people and wishing them Eid Mubarak.  Also, I receive quite a lot of messages. I try to reply them all and start wishing people eid Mubarak and calling people. I and my siblings put the house in order, and make breakfast (though we don’t eat until after the prayer). After which we dress up and go to the prayer ground for eid. We come back and witness the slaughtering of cow and the nerve wrecking fiasco of cooking starts. When food is ready, we take some to our neighbours or serve people that come by. The family house is really really close to Olumo, so people are always trooping in to eat because of the crowd around the area whether they are invited or not. The next day is usually for outing or visiting people.

• What’s your favorite thing to do on Eid?

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• Your best Eid experience?

I’ve had some pretty memorable eid celebrations so this is kinda difficult but I’ll have to go with a particular year my uncle came home with Olumo youths carnival t-shirts and gave all of us (my cousins and siblings). It is done every year and we are usually not allowed to partake but that year, we did. We didn’t trek with everyone. We were in the car but we experienced everything. The singing, shouting, thrills and frills and the energy busting through the youths.

It was quite amazing because most people there were actually people living in Lagos or other regions but came home to celebrate Eid. That same day, after the energy draining shout (who am I kidding? My mates were walking inside the sun but I was in the car cheering on), we got home and met visitors and one of the Olumo staffs eating. The visitors said they would want to go up but people were too much so he said when people had reduced, he would come for us. Mind you, Olumo rock was something I saw almost every year so usually am not excited to go anymore but this time around, we had visitors that were really ecstatic to experience it.  I decided to tag along and a man took us around, taking his time. It was more amazing this time around because it was dark and the crowd had drastically reduced.

Imagine having a view of Abeokuta city during the night. Everything was tiny with rays of light here and there, it was sensational!  I was glad I decided to go that night because it was different.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

One of the best things about Eid is celebrating it and creating memories and experiences with people. Whether  you are celebrating alone or you are celebrating amongst  people, try to live in the moment and enjoy. We should also not forget the lessons the season teaches us: Mercy, Devotion, Sacrifice, dedication, amongst others. May Allah SWT make us witness more Eids in good health and the best of situations.

INTERVIEW WITH DANAZUNMI WAHEEDAT

• Tell us about yourself.

I’m DanAzunmi Waheedat, a student of A.B.U Zaira. I’m aspiring to be a model and I also have a scarf brand.

•  What does Eid mean to you?

Eid to me, is a celebration with your families. All the members in the family get to meet and celebrate with each other.

• What’s your ideal Eid outfit?

An ideal Eid outfit should be abaya, gowns, kimono or preferably modest outfits.

• Give us a summary of how you usually spend Eid.

On Eid day, I do bathe early so as to meet solat Eid, most of the times I go without eating. Then after the solat, I would eat and then dress up for PICTURE TIME. After taking pictures, I and my families would go to our family house to kill ram and stuff. I do spend my day on Eid day mostly at our family house.

• What’s your favorite thing to do on Eid?

My favourite thing to do on Eid day is the solat and taking pictures.

• Your best Eid experience?

To be honest, I’m not sure if I have one but if I were to say one, it would be the day my sisters and I went out, we escaped going to our family house.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for the opportunity and HAPPY EID-UL-ADHA.

INTERVIEW WITH FAREEDAH OKIKIOLA

• Tell us about yourself.

I’m Fareedah Okikiola Maaruf popularly known as freedah or reedah by friends. I identify as a Muslim and Yoruba, born and brought up in Kaduna state. I’m from kwara state, in my early 20’s and a graduate of FCET gusau (last year). I’m an Entrepreneur (brand names @Freedahbeautyempire and @FREEDAHMODESTYCOLLECTIONS on Instagram) and I love fashion i love hijabs, accessories and modest wears. I love making friends and my favorite quote is: Be covered and slay in modesty.

•  What does Eid mean to you?

Eid as we all know, is a festival for us Muslims. To me, I see it as a blessed day to be thankful for being alive to experience it and I’m always happy about it.

• What’s your ideal Eid outfit?

I love being covered and although I’m not a long hijab fan, I still dress modestLy. So I’m always on a long gown with a wrapped scarf or I wear an instant simple hijab. I would love to wear those fancy abayahs but I’m not rich lol, so for now I always get a really nice fabric and give it to a tailor to make a nice enough abayah😊.

• Give us a summary of how you usually spend Eid.

I always spend my Eid with my families and 2 days after sallah I spend it with friends. We go out to amusement park to chill and enjoy. However last Eid was my birthday it was full of cake eating and double celebration😀.

• What’s your favorite thing to do on Eid?

I love cooking Eid food and making small chops for families & friends😊.

• Your best Eid experience?

My best Eid experience was when I travelled to my hometown and my Dad took I and siblings to different places.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

May Almighty Allah make us witness more. May He grant our heart desires. Ameen.

INTERVIEW WITH TAWAKALT

• Tell us about yourself.

My name is Tawakalt. I’m a final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University. Department of family, nutrition and consumer sciences.

•  What does Eid mean to you?

Eid to me, means having fun with your loved ones.

• What’s your ideal Eid outfit?

My ideal eid outfit is a simple and modest dress with matching scarf and comfortable shoes.

• Give us a summary of how you usually spend Eid.

I usually just take pictures, eat, nap and visit friends.

• What’s your favorite thing to do on Eid?

Eat lots of meat😁. Lol.

• Your best Eid experience?

I haven’t had a best one yet.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

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INTERVIEW WITH TOYIBAH FOLAMI

• Tell us about yourself.

Hi yʼall, Iʼm Toyibah Folami. Iʼm a Digital creator, Writer & Style influencer.

•  What does Eid mean to you?

Eid is an Arabic word for “festival” so itʼs a celebration for Muslims everywhere. Itʼs a time where families and friends come together and perform our various duties as written down by the Almighty.

• What’s your ideal Eid outfit?

Abaya (preferably black) or Native outfit (preferably Ankara).

• Give us a summary of how you usually spend Eid.

First, we leave my house really early to go out to the family house and then we go to the mosque. After praying, we go back to my family house to wine & dine, etc lol.

• What’s your favorite thing to do on Eid?

My favourite thing is weaving that ram intestine thingy.😂😂. I know it’s wierd but it’s true. It used to be eating meat but for the past few years my teeth has been really weak so I honestly dread the after effects of eating ram meat.

• Your best Eid experience?

Lol I canʼt choose, I have tons. I always look forward to all Eid celebrations because thatʼs when everyone comes together to pray, eat and gist.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

Hopefully by this time next year Iʼll be in Mecca/Medinah for Hajj, In Shaa Allah.

I hope you enjoyed reading these. Do make sure to check them out on Instagram and connect with them. I’d love to know about your Eid in the comments!! Tell me whatever comes to mind when you think of Eid, that makes you smile.

May Allah SWT continue to bless all of us. Have a lovely and Blessed Eid.

With Utmost Love,