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Nigerian Muslims in Diaspora were filled with nostalgia and excitement as they celebrated the Eid-ul-Adha 2018 in their respective countries of residence. However, they missed home, sweet home.

Samiat Owo-Alade, an Ikorodu-born Nigerian based in Bangalore, India described the Eid as a time to come together with family.

Miss Owo-Alade, however, said despite not being the only Nigerian in India, Eid in a foreign land can never be like Eid at home.

“AlhamduliLlah for witnessing this year’s Eid. It was fun to celebrate with a few friends but frankly, it can never be like Eid in Lagos. Honestly, I miss home. Nowhere like home”, she stated with nostalgia.

Sukaynah Shuaib is an indigene of Edo State, but she was based in Lagos until early 2018 when she relocated to Selangor, Malaysia for higher education.

According to her, Eid-ul-Adha is a celebration of slaughtering and a reflection of the sacrifice and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with him).

The student of International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM) shared the joyous moment of the Eid with her new found friends, whom she described as “friends that are like family”. She, however, admitted there is no place like home.

“The experience here is totally different. It is entirely a new experience. The people here don’t celebrate like we do at home, where you would have to visit your families and friends. In some instances, people staged carnival-like events but here, I was at home all day. Alhamdulillah, it was fun,” she concluded.

In a chat with DAILY INDEPENDENT from her abode in Doha, Qatar, Hajia Nusaybah DhikruLlah admitted that Eid without one’s extended family is boring.

“I miss a lot the merrymaking, the gist, the excitement, the slaughtering of the cow and my family, especially my siblings,” she said.

While her siblings in Nigeria were preparing Sallah cow to be divided into three parts according to the Sunnah, the daughter of the erudite Nigerian Muslim scholar, Sheikh DhikruLlah Shafi’i related how she and her immediate family observed the Eid in Doha.

“Although we are not the only Nigerians in this environment, we decided to observe the Eid indoors. We went to pray Eid and returned home. We had some food to eat and drink, and we went back to sleep. However, some celebrated together in their neighbourhoods,” she added.

The Sallah meat, according to the Shari’iah, should be divided into three parts, one each for one’s family, friends and relatives (who were not financially buoyant enough to buy the sacrificial animal), and the poor and needy.

To Ustadh Ibn Taofeeq Abdul Azeez, an Ogun State-born Nigerian who lives in Amman, Jordan, Eid-ul-Adha is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness and obedience of the Father of Faith (Ibrahim) to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his son.

The respected scholar with many followers on social media (Facebook) said: “These are days Muslims of the world make special efforts to remember their Lord, pray to Him and unite themselves on goodness.

“That is why you see Muslims who don’t even observe Solah before, join the Solah of this great Eid. These days are days of celebration, days of showing love to one another, days of exchanging gifts and prayers, and days which call to unity, no matter the rancour between us.

“The days of Eid are the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul- Hijjah. These days are the days of eating and drinking. That is why we must not ignore the poor, needy and less privileged. We must help them celebrate and enjoy the best of these days,” he stated.

Like other Muslims in Diaspora, Ustadh Ibn Taofeeq said it was not a good feeling to miss Eid celebrations in one’s hometown, stressing that: “It has been part of me to celebrate Eid away from home. I consider here and Nigeria as my homes. My Arabian friends were here to celebrate with me.

“I, however, missed my mum, teachers, students, childhood friends and families. Most especially, I missed that lively and lovely culture,” he concluded.

For the first time in 6 years, Mr Nurudeen Yusuf, who resides in Manama, Bahrain with his family, returned home for the Eid-ul-Adha celebration. He was one of the hundreds of Muslims living in Diaspora who reunited with their extended families in Nigeria, years after living and working in foreign lands.

He said with excitement: “I feel very delighted to be reunited with my family in Nigeria after about 6 years, especially seeing my dad after the long period. I was scared and praying that nothing happens to my dad prior to our meeting. I ask Allah to give him a long life in good health and comfort (Amin).”

Read more: https://independent.ng/we-miss...