Scenes From a Bay Area Eid
Stayed overnight with dear friends so we could be closer to Eid prayers in the morning. A house full of children laughing and playing until late filled my heart. When kids are hyped up on sugar, you know it’s Eid!
My son dressed up in his “coolest” hoodie, and I dressed up in bright colors that brought me delight.
We headed to the fairgrounds to experience a festive environment and pray with thousands of other Muslims. Five Eid prayer shifts at the fairgrounds, even more at the mosque. Chaotic and disorganized but exciting at the same time, I haven’t been around so many Muslims since I left Istanbul at the end of 2024.
There are so many Muslims in the East Bay. The global fashion show is my favorite aspect of large Eid gatherings. I’m always a little jealous (in a good way) of the beautiful clothing people wear, reflecting the richness of their cultural backgrounds.
The prayers were a blur, the speaker system barely worked, so we could only make out snippets of the imam reciting the Qur’an. As soon as prayers were over, the women got up and greeted one another, and everyone started talking at once, making it impossible to hear the imam speaking on the speaker system that was no match for a huge hall of women.
Lesson learned: praying is always best where women and men pray together, not just because it makes us feel united as an Ummah, but also, if they don’t feel included, women will completely ignore the imam on the little screen at the front of the room, carrying on with their socializing as if the khutba (sermon) weren’t an essential part of Eid prayers. Hatem Bazian looked so enthusiastic as he shared a carefully thought-out and constructed message that I am sure I would have enjoyed, but alas he was drowned out by Eid socializing.
Out of the thousands of people milling about the fairgrounds, randomly running into lovely women I know feels like an unexpected blessing.
Lunch was a juicy hamburger for the boy and a veggie burger for me. Eating in the daytime in public was fun!
Later in the afternoon, a long drive back to the North Bay to spend time celebrating with Sufi beloveds at a lovely house on a big hill.
Eid money for my son, too many sweets, ma’mul brought all the way from Amman, so much food, and caffeine flowed throughout the day. Dhikr and songs with the daf, smiles all around. Conversations flow throughout the house and the garden.
Exhausted, we drove home through the stunning beauty of the countryside as the sun descended below the horizon and the thicker sliver of the moon slowly began its ascent.