MY EID EXPERIENCE

by Miriam Leiros — friend of Weird and Wonderful’s Ayesha Tape

Being an exchange student from Norway, in South Africa I feel like I’m experiencing new things every single day. But being invited to celebrate Eid with my friend Ayesha and her family was definitely something I did not expect, and it was absolutely amazing. I have always been very open to trying new things and experiences, but to be perfectly honest I knew nothing about Islam and this holiday in particular. The only impression I have of the religion is the unfair picture the media has painted. However, I don’t like judging anything before I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so naturally I was very excited.

The day before Eid I had a long talk about Islam, the reason for this celebration and even just religion in its simplest form with Ayesha and her dad. To be perfectly honest, this was my favourite part of the whole experience. Her dad answered all my questions without being mad at me or ignorant because I believe differently, and he answered everything in such an honest and understaning way that he drew an entirely new picture for me of this beautiful, lovely religion. People usually connect Islam with terrorism and war, but the truth is that it’s a religion built on love and family, and of taking care of everyone around you. It’s such an important message and I am so grateful for the experience to learn more about it; and not just from a boring textbook but from someone who practices the religion every single day and who truly belongs to it from the bottom of their heart.

Early in the morning we went to the mosque to pray. I understood about nothing, but it was really cool to see how everyone prayed together and to actually feel the fellowship amongst both families and complete strangers. Before we left we said greeted all the other women there, a gesture that really touched me. I mean, you’ve never seen these people in your entire life, but being there creates a tiny community and a common understaning and it’s all very beautiful to watch. And I got to wear an abaya which was super cool.

Later on we got dressed properly and went around to the houses of different family members. All very nice people making tons of food for everyone to enjoy, and I must admit; the food was amongst the best stuff I’ve tasted in my life.

One would expect to have a very formal celebration, but in fact is was super chilled and the mood was so welcoming and homely I actually felt at home in a house I’ve never been to with 20 people I’ve never seen before. What could people possibly dislike about this religion? That truly is beyond my capacity of understanding… I just know that I had an awesome day, and that even though I am not about to convert anytime soon, I truly enjoyed the experience and I would do it again in the blink of an eye. So thank you Ayesha, and your family, for letting me in on this amazing celebration and for treating me like I belonged there. I loved it.