Eid has always felt like a little piece of magic to me. From the moment Ramadan begins, I start counting the days. I imagine my new dress, the colour of my bangles, and how dark my mehndi will turn. The night before Eid is my favourite, when the house smells sweet, lights feel brighter, and everyone seems extra happy. I go to sleep with a big smile, waiting for the most beautiful morning of the year.
But this time, something felt different.
I was still excited. I still wore my favourite dress and looked at my mehndi again and again. But somewhere inside me, there was a quiet feeling I could not ignore. It was not sadness exactly, but something deeper.
I started thinking about other Muslim children around the world. Children like me, who also wait for Eid with the same excitement. But then I realised that not all of them get the same Eid as I do. In some places, like Iran and other parts of the world, people are facing difficult situations. Some families are worried, some are afraid, and some cannot celebrate Eid the way they want to.
That thought stayed in my heart all day.
I wondered, do those children also pick out their Eid clothes? Do they also wait for Eidi? Do they also smile when they see the moon? And then I wondered… what if their Eid morning is not full of laughter, but full of worry?
It made me realise something I had never really thought about before. We are all Muslims. We all fast in Ramadan. We all wait for Eid with the same hope. But sometimes, the world does not let everyone feel the same happiness.
I also learned that sometimes countries do not agree with each other, and even Muslims can feel divided because of situations around them. This confused me, because I always thought Eid was about coming together, hugging, forgiving, and feeling like one big family.
This Eid, I still smiled, laughed, and enjoyed every moment. But I also made quiet dua in my heart. I prayed for those children, for their safety, for their happiness, and for a day when their Eid feels just as magical as mine.
For the first time, I understood that Eid is not only about what we wear or eat. It is about what we feel for others. It is about kindness, gratitude, and remembering that we are one Ummah, no matter where we are in the world.
This Eid was different for me. It was still beautiful, but it also taught me something important.
Even if our Eid are not the same, our hearts can still beat together.
From: Arwa Shahjahan
Grade: 5-A