Ramadan/Eid 2023 by Rukaiya Ahmed Alibe

Alhamdulillah for witnessing yet another Ramadan in good health and happiness. This beautiful month began and ended much more faster than I expected. I’ll say this Ramadan has been the quickest I’ve ever experienced. In addition, despite the scorching heat in my town, it is not as difficult as I thought it might be .

And guess what? the Ramadan was almost halfway when I thought to update my blog. I then did my best to take down some of the information I felt was important for me to share here.

For the whole month, I used my to-do list, challenge and my updated dua book to continuously guide myself. I also watched a number of vlogs concerning Ramadan, and my favorite of those was the “Jannah, Home at Last Series” and Each episode of the series serves as an important reminder of how temporary this world is. May Allah provide each of us with a high place in Jannatul Firdous. Aameen❤️

I hated my WhatsApp all through the month and I made an oath not to use tiktok through out this month and it worked out Alhamdulillah. I’m too proud to admit that when I make a commitment to do something or force myself to refrain from doing something, I actually follow through on my word.

Family gatherings, the aroma of iftar food, Quran readings everywhere, late-night walks after iftar, the warm taraweeh nights, and occasionally staying up for tahajjud until suhoor all added to the excitement of Ramadan.

Alhamdulillah is all I will keep saying because on the other hand, some of the duas I made even before Ramadan ended, i felt the outcome . I’m not trying to brag or make you feel somehow; I just want to remind you to be sincere when you make your dua, to have faith in the process, and to be patient. Insha’Allah, Allah will make better option out of it.

Two days before Ramadan ends, I got my hair and henna done in preparation to the coming Eid. Despite all the stress, I really admired the artist’s hard work.

The month of Ramadan came to an end with lots of memories. May Allah (S.W.T) grant us the ability to see more of it while we are all healthy. Aaameeeeen!

Then Eid begins. I’ll admit that, Ma sha Allah this is my first Eid ever with glowing skin. My skin benefited greatly from the consistency I maintained with a few skin care products.

After Eid prayers on the first day, I quickly napped, we fried/cooked, exchanged gifts, and ate to our satisfaction. Visitations and family pictures were done on the second day of Eid. Then the third day began with tons of cooking for the children at the Fatima Ali Sheriff Orphanage Home. Because this plan took shape after I visited the children for a work report during Ramadan, it was really a huge success for me.

Together with a few of my family members who accompanied me, it was an emotional day for us. Meanwhile, We had a satisfying meal and drinks together, followed by some joyful photos.

To complete a story that will be posted to my office website, I also conducted interviews with a number of the children before leaving.

The government is making a lot of effort to meet their needs, but there are still a few issues with their way of life that need to be addressed. For instance, renovating some of the spaces where the orphans reside, enrolling some of the children who were abandoned in both western and religious schools, setting up small recreational spaces for the kids, and teaching those who are interested on entrepreneurship skills.

A reminder: Caring for orphans is a significant part of Islam. Orphans are mentioned 22 times in the Qur’an; their mistreatment is a serious sin, while nurturing and sponsoring them is an immensely valuable good deed.

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him reportedly said: The best household among the Muslims is a household wherein an orphan is treated well. And the worst household among the Muslims is a household wherein an orphan is ill-treated” (Ibn Majah).

This means the families that sponsor orphans with love, kindness and honesty are of the genuine nobles in this faith-community. It is a rank conferred in Islam by neither wealth nor birth or title, but only by acting on the highest commands and most urgent advisements of Allah and His Prophet, on him be peace, to save the vulnerable.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him also said: Call the orphan to you. Pat him tenderly on the head. Then feed him from your food. This will soften your heart and bestow upon you [the blessing] of gaining what you need” (Kharanti, The Noblest Virtues, p. 661).

A soft heart itself a most cherished grace, for it renders the heart responsive to Allah’s guidance and draws one by its cords near to Him and everlastingly to His Paradise.

Sponsoring an orphan can be a dynamic sadaqah jariyah, that is, an ever-flowing, perpetual source of charity, for its giver. That means your orphan sponsorship can keep the good deeds flowing into your Heavenly Balance from multiple charitable wellsprings, even when your earthly actions have ended and you are in your grave. Source: /what-does-islam-say-about-orphan-care

Taking my niece and nephew to an ice cream shop was the next thing I did on that same second day of Eid. My brother drove us to the popular “Cravings” in Maiduguri and i bought everyone a scoop. Using the little I have to make them happy is one of my favorite things to do.

Moving on, the celebration of Eid fitr came to an end on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, when we held a little walima at my workplace. We ate, joked, took pictures, and that is how the day came to a happy ending.

I have to stop here, but I won’t say this is the conclusion of the writing because I might edit it after Eid Al-Adha. Insha Allah, I’m looking forward to it in good health and with happiness.

May Allah, the Most High, grant us the ability to carry out the good deeds we have been practicing during Ramadan forever, Amin. I appreciate you all for reading, and Goodbye for now.