The most important way of making Eid memorable for your children is to spend it together as a family; remembering Allah (swt) and reviving the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). By celebrating Eid, you are following in the way of the Prophet and his righteous followers.
Celebrating Eid al-Fitr is also one way you can nurture your child’s Muslim identity whilst strengthening family and community ties.
So much emphasis is placed on Christmas in Western culture by the media, and even in schools, that many Muslim parents feel that they need to compensate by making Eid really special. It was the Prophetic practice to celebrate Eid, so for this reason it is worthwhile to make the Eid celebration something memorable for your children.
Here are some Fun Ways to celebrate Eid with your children:
Duaa
On the last night of Ramadan, take your children outside to look for the new moon. Pack some hot chocolate and snacks, and sit together. As a family, look for the new moon and when you see it recite the following duaa:
Special Clothes
Have your children wear their best clothes on Eid morning. This is a great way to help them realise the importance of the day, and create a sense of excitement about the coming celebration. During the time of the Prophet (saw) it was a tradition of the people to adorn themselves on Eid.
Al-Hassan as-Sibt says: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) ordered us to wear the best clothes we could find for the two Eids and to apply the best perfume we could find and to sacrifice the best animal we could find.” [Hakim].
Eid Prayer
Make it a family tradition to attend the Eid prayer at your mosque. Before the day arrives, it is worthwhile spending some time teaching the children about the prayer, how to perform it, and the sunnahs surrounding it. If you are unfamiliar with the Eid prayer, you can find a step-by-step guide to the prayer here.
There is a fantastic free colouring book from OurPreciousSprouts that we also highly recommend. It teaches the sunnahs of Eid al-Fitr in a very visual, child-friendly way that your kids will love.
