Eid

May Allah accept your fasting, prayers, and acts of charity, and may this be a blessed Eid for all. Schenectady got a few new outfits, hand-knit socks, rubber duckies, a book and some cash. Not bad for a first Eid. He presented me with a poop joke of his own making- in more than one sense of the term. Happy Eid, everyone.

When I am strong, you resent me
When I am weak you torment me
Just who am I supposed to be
So you'll stay in love with me?
When I know, you despise me
When I don't know, you deride me
Am I such a mistake to you
That there's nothing that I can do?
I've played dumb to placate you
Hoping you won't see right through
To my need to go and do
Everything you won't or can't do

So I'm hanging up the lights for Eid
Lights you will never see, like my tears

... a musical Happy Eid

The month of Ramadan, the Hajj season, and the days of the Eids are some of the most blessed moments of our calendar, let us try to fill them with peace, compassion, and good will towards all humanity; and let us start within our community. Have a blessed Eid, and please sign this pledge:

We pledge to engage with respect and good will towards those who hold views different from ours on the calendar of our festivals. Wa Allahu Aalam, only the Almighty has perfect knowledge.

Here's the full statement from the MPV:

Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah!

I have had a few crappy days lately: illness, tough times at work, and celebrations past, present, and impending have been wearing on me. I've gotten better about indulging in self-pity, however, and tried something that I hope may help you: when I'm having a bad day, I've sought out extra opportunities for kindness: offering a seat on the subway to an older/pregnant/parcel-laden person, making sure I've extra change for my favorite homeless folk, that sort of thing. It gives a lift to the spirits like nothing else, and it's free, for whatever I loan to God through charity will be repaid. And the promise of the Lord is true. 

----PLEASE FORWARD/PUBLICIZE WIDELY----

On Eid al-Shukr, We thank God for the nourishment he has provided us and also thank God for the strength to act against injustice with our hands, our voices, and through prayer.

As a community, I suggest we work with Native Americans to ban racist Sports Mascots. Through grass roots activism, Native American groups were able to persuade the NCAA to ban the use of racist mascots and team names. Their activism provides an admonishment to us and a good example.

iFaqeer has suggested putting together a public service Eid greeting that would encourage unity in the community despite the date differences.  I am not sure if he is suggesting an extra eid gathering that everyone could attend. I'm not quite sure what the public service announcement would do. Is it just to say "Eid Mubarak" no matter what? If so, I want to ask you all what do you think of this? Is the split so bad that people do not actually exchange Eid greetings? What is up with all this? Also do you think the Fiqh Council's date will change matters much? What is going on???

Jump through to see his blog on the matter from last year.

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"Celebrate! The month of fasting has come. Pleasant journey to the one Who is the company of the fasting."-Jalaluddin Rumi

This page should help explain a few things about this year's Eid al-Fitr Prayer hosted by Laury Silvers and me, Nakia Jackson.

First, the invite. It's on the front page, but I'll repost here.

Asalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah, and Ramadan Mubarak.
"O moon-faced Beloved, the month of Ramadan has arrived.
Cover the table and open the path of praise."
--Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi

Nakia Jackson and Laury Silvers invite you to celebrate
Eid al-Fitr prayer and breakfast with them.