By Aulah Najjuuka
Eid El-Fitr, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is a significant religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world. It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
For Muslims, Eid El-Fitr is a time of joy, gratitude, and renewed faith. It is a time to gather with family and friends, share meals, give to charity, and celebrate the achievements made during the month of Ramadan.
This year, I had the privilege of celebrating Eid El-Fitr with my family back home. We started the day by attending prayers at the Gaddafi Mosque in Old Kampala. The mosque was packed with worshippers, and it took us twenty minutes to get into the compound and approximately 30 minutes to get back to our car after the prayers.
At Uganda Christian University( UCU), Eid isn’t as celebrated as Easter holidays because the Islamic community isn’t as big. But still, the Muslim students and staff are able to celebrate and get days off to celebrate the day.
“We had a paper on Eid this time around, but the administration was able to notice it and push the paper all the way to another day just to enable us to go home and celebrate the day.” Omar Nanima, LLB4
And I personally got to celebrate Eid with my Muslim friends last year since we didn’t get to go home. We cooked and celebrated here on campus, and it still felt like home.
In a traditional Muslim setting, men and women pray separately, so I had to wait to rejoin my dad and baby brother after the prayers. Once reunited, we hurried back home to prepare for the large gathering we were hosting. Family, relatives, friends, and neighbors came to our home to share in the festivities and enjoy delicious food.
“For us Muslims, Eid is a day of celebration after a full
Month of dry fasting so we invite our family and friends and enjoy it even though they aren’t Muslims.” Shakirah Masembe Student at UCU Mukono LLB2
As the day came to a close, my dad led us in a dua (prayers) to keep us all safe and protected even after the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and gratitude, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared it with my loved ones. Eid Mubarak to all Muslims celebrating around the world!
We are advised to continue with the holy way of living we had adopted during Ramadan, like praying five times a day, staying away from alcohol and cigarettes and so many more.
After Ramdhan is commenced, there are six days called “Sitat,” or the six days of the next immediate month on the Islamic calendar being Shawwal,” that are fasted by willin