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No Charm Left in Eid Celebrations

The charm of the Eid celebrations is lost. The happiness that used to engulf people is no more there

Monday June 9, 2025 11:37 PM, Raqif Makhdoomi

The charm of the Eid celebrations is lost. The happiness that used to engulf people is no more there. The smiles are no more real, they are no more what they used to be. The buzz in the markets is just to buy things not to celebrate anymore. People now wear the new clothes just to look good, not to celebrate Eid.

There used to be times here in Kashmir when there were no enough dishes on the table to eat, but they used to be happy with whatever they had. Not everyone used to have new clothes but the smiles and the excitement used to make those old clothes look expensive and brand new.

The hugs now are just for the photo-shoots and the smiles are for selfies. No one is actually celebrating Eid anymore. It has just become a custom with no emotions and feelings. The smiling faces are hiding the sad stories those no one want to share. Everyone is fighting and battling within, which they don’t want to disclose to anyone but wants to win in anyway.

Eid ul Adha, teaches us sacrifice, the sacrifice that calls for complete surrender to the will and order of Allah, The Almighty and the Creator of the world, and the Almighty of the world hereafter.

Each and Every Prophet was made to go through challenges. Hazrat Ibrahim [AS] was challenged with his son Hazrat Ismael, Hazrat Musa [AS] was tested and Hazrat Issa [AS] too were tested.

Hazrat Ayyub [AS] was tested with a very long illness. Allah had blessed Hazrat Ayub [AS] with plenty of wealth but took it away as a part of test. He didn’t complain about anything. Accepted whatever Allah tested him with.

Hazrat Ayyub [AS] was asked after he recovered, “Which days were the best?”

Hazrat Ayyub [AS] replied, “The days when I was ill, were the best.”

He was asked “Why?”

He replied, “Because Jibreel (Gabriel)[AS] used to come and ask me about my health and used to say Allah has send you salaam.”

Challenges are the part of the life of a believing Muslim. There’s a Hadith that says, “The one who’s close to Allah, Allah makes him go through tests.”

Prophet Muhammad [saw] himself had to go through tests. He said, “The way I have been tortured for Islam, no other has been.”

This was how Allah tested the Prophet who was the most favorite person. It has to be noted no one who Allah loved has been left without tests and trials.

We all know how Hazrat Ibrahim [AS] was tested with fire. When he confronted his people against their wrong practices, he was thrown in fire. But his trials led him to acquire a very respectable position in Islam. Prophets came from his blood line. And, even after centuries people perform sacrifice which was started by him.

Allah says in Quran 2:214, “Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, When will Allah’s help come? Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near.”

Allah has clearly mentioned about being tested. So how can we not be tested? While we read this verse, we must remember Allah doesn't only say about challenges but also the challenges that the people in the past have faced.

Remember how Hazrat Yasir [RA] was martyred for the sake of Islam. His body was torn into pieces just because he wasn’t ready to accept the wrong.

Hazrat Sumaya [RA] is the first woman martyr of Islam. She was martyred alongside her husband Hazrat Yasir [RA].

Hazrat Yasir [RA] was asked to accept that these idols are also worth something. He, however, rejected. He was tied up with four healthy camels. And then they were made to run in different directions. His wife, Hazrat Sumaya [RA], was martyred by an arrow in her private part.

Hazrat Yousuf [AS] was tested with prison. Imam Abu Hanifa [ra] was poisoned in prison. Shaheed Kutub [ra] was hanged to death for speaking up the truth .

Whosoever has sided with the truth has been made to go thought challenges. While Nelson Mandela was leading the fight against apartheid he was imprisoned for 27 years. Every single person who stood for truth has faced difficulties.

We as Muslims must always remember our life is full of challenges because that’s what we have been sent to this world.

We often look at others who don’t obey Allah living very happy and comfortable life. For them, Allah has mentioned in Quran 3:196:

“Do not be deceived by the prosperity of the disbelievers throughout the land” and in 3:197 “It is only a brief enjoyment. Then Hell will be their home—what an evil place to rest!”

The problem with us as Muslims is we haven’t understood Qur'an the way we had to, leave alone Islam. It’s a very big and deep sea. Quran provides us answers to each and every question, but its we who haven’t understood it.

We are facing enormous challenges. Our loved ones are in jails, some are in graves and some are still missing. We have every right and justification to be sad but we must learn from the people of Gaza, how they have learned to live with all the hardships they are facing.

We believe we shall be rewarded for all our hardships.

Inshallah.

[The writer, Raqif Makhdoomi, is law student and a rights activist.]

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