NIGERIAN MUSLIMS CELEBRATE `EID IN STYLE
Lagos, 3 Shawwal 1436/19 July 2015 (MINA) – Nigerian Muslims are celebrating the `Eid in grand style as parents swarmed around textile markets to buy exquisite wears and decorations for their children, despite the economic downturn and insecurity in the northern parts of the country.
“The agenda of Boko Haram is to paint our religion in dark, make us continue to mourn and cast a shadow of sadness on the Muslim community. But we must not let our children grow up like this. We need to teach them that `Eid time is for deep reflection and celebration of Allah’s blessings,” Shukurat Abdullahi, a resident of northwestern Kano town, told On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“We are praying to Allah to let this violence go away. This is our prayer because we have to be watching everywhere and be vigilant since we do not know if the next person is planning to detonate a bomb. But we will never give in to those criminals.”
Most Nigerians observed `Eid prayer on Friday after the country’s head of the Muslim community Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar announced the sighting of the new moon, indicating the end of Ramadan and commencement of Shawwal, the 10th lunar month.
In southwest Nigeria, many women apparently belonging to an Islamic organization were seen spotting uniformed cloth to commemorate the `Eid.
“We decided to buy and wear the same cloth as a mark friendship and unity since we belong to the same Asalatu,” Baseerah Abdussamad, a member of the Asalatu Group at Rabiat Adawiyyah Mosque Abule Egba Lagos, told On Islam at the praying ground.
“Usually when we go out as a group, it is good, and we like, to wear one cloth so people can easily identify us. So we buy such cloth during `Eid.”
OnIslam.net correspondent in Lagos observed that the trend of group cloth is gaining ground across much of southwest, where organized prayer groups established to halt conversion of Muslim children to other faiths are widening their influence and influencing social behaviors of their members especially during festive periods.
Boutiques have been busy in the past days as Muslims get ready for `Eid as parents shop for their little children.
“Because I couldn’t get a taylor to show their cloths, I had to visit a nearby boutique to get some clothes for my children,” Ismail Adejare, a Muslim father, told On Islam on Friday morning.
“As children, they also want to feel good among their peers and it is my responsibility as a parent not to let them down.”
Most Nigerian Muslims celebrated `Eid yesterday, although a few segment are observing their own prayer today.
The government has declared a two-day holiday for July 17 and 20 (Friday and Monday). Saturday and Sunday are holidays in Nigeria.
The `Eid celebration comes amid deep financial stress in the country where dip in the international price of oil has affected government revenues, leading to delay in payment of salaries and other allowances for government workers.
`Eid Al-Fitr is one the two main Islamic religious festivals along with `Eid Al-Adha.
After special prayers to mark the day, festivities and merriment start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.
And while traditionally everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, children look forward to gifts and traditional `ediya (cash). (T/P006/P2)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
