Corona Eid: MY RAYA WAS SIMPLE YET MEANINGFUL (ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT)

by Nur Farah Hazwani

Additional assignment.

Source: JUICEOnline

It was sad because Ramadhan just left us, begging and asking God to give another chance to meet Ramadhan again next year. However, praised to God that we was given another chance to celebrate Syawal, which was awaited months for all Muslims after enduring hunger and thirst for about one month. Every Muslims from kids to the eldest absolutely excited to celebrate it. Same goes to me and my family. We were excited to celebrate it with all my families who are staying near in my house area. Covid-19 outbreak makes us couldn’t meet often stuck following the instruction given by government to lower the infections towards humans. So this is the perfect timing to enjoy and celebrate it with them. 

Even though this is our first time celebrated Hari Raya without Opah, instead of being sad we always sending her Dua’ and never forget our memories with her. We celebrate it in simply way but lively. For me, my Ramadhan and Syawal this time slightly different but not too much, because my family kindly practicing Solat berjemaah and Solat sunat since Ramadhan. It giving me such a peaceful feelings and thankful because I ‘am still given a chance to experience it. 

Our last Raya with Opah

 

For my first Eid, I woke up earlier preparing performed  Solat sunat Hari Raya with my family led by dad. I was excited for this, because this is my first time performing sunat prayer in my house, different environment because before this we performed prayer at mosque near my house. After finished, my dad were deliver a Khutbah Hari Raya to us, I’m trying to understand every verse from it and hopefully it will be easily too applied into our lives in future with guidance. Then, we are in hurry to get dressed up into our Baju raya, instead of buy a new one we decided wore our last year Baju raya. 

this picture is blur, sebab kawan adik snapkan

 

After that, it is the part where I will definitely avoid it which is asking forgiveness to one another. To be honest, even though I’m the eldest but I’m still a cry baby girl, so it is kind of shame to be the first one asking forgiveness to my parents. I’m worried that I will messed up my beautiful make up on my face. I should give good example to my siblings. When it comes to my turn, I asked to be apologized deep into my heart and wishing them Selamat Hari Raya. Once that, I felt shocked after received RM50 notes from my parents as my Duit raya. We are cannot even hide our happy faces. Before this we haven’t received it and we do not expect it because a months ago something just happened to my dad, so this is our first time to receive that.

 

 

 

Then our Eid continued by taking our family photo shoot. Usually, we take a Raya’s photo with my cousin’s family but there arrived a little late and comes in the evening. So, we just do it by my family.  Because I do not have tripod to stand my DSLR, I asked my little brother’s friend to take our photos. Furthermore, we have planned to video calling my uncles and aunties at Pahang. This outbreak makes us couldn’t be able to see them and celebrate Hari Raya. Even though we are far away, by contacted them make us felt the same vibe but in different way. I ‘m so happy to see our families safe and ate good foods there.

 

While we are having such a fun conversation, suddenly I heard my stomach urgently calls for foods. After being fasting for a months, today’s is the time to eat in the morning with Lemang, Chicken rendang, Nasi impit kuah kacang, dessert and more. The dishes was cooked by my mom a day before Raya. We helped preparing the ingredients for the dishes. This year I definitely aimed to eat Lemang after craving it for a long time. Last year unfortunately, I’m not have a chance to eat it. So it is the time by picked two pieces of Lemang and chicken rending and enjoy it with my siblings while waiting for our guest.

 

While my mom and little sister having a chit-chat in kitchen while tidy up messed after eating foods suddenly my phone is ringing, just got a message from my friends wanted to come over to my house for delivering a food. A few minutes after that, they arrived and hand me a homemade Rendang. I invite them to come into my house, they afraid my mom doesn’t not give permission to allow them because of we still linked to government instruction to follow the standard operation (SOP). By the result a few of people still doesn’t want to have a guest during Raya. My friendship with them for about 5 years make us discussed a lot of things because of our commitment towards study, jobs and this outbreak makes us doesn’t have much time to create bonding. 

So in the evening was my family turn, Izzati (sibling) and I preparing the dishes helping by our cousins. In addition, one of my cousins right now is pregnant and just moved to their new house so we start the conversation by asking their baby condition, house location and how they lives going when Movement Control Order (MCO). We are feeling great and happy to see everybody. We ate again together at the table, while my dad and Pakngah chit-chatting about their new hobbies at home, my mom, Makngah and Kak Auni (cousin) discussing about lontong recipe, Amir (siblings) and Amirul (cousin) playing bicycle outside, and Safiah (cousin), Izzati and I take as much selfie as we can to put up into our Instagram page. 

Next, we are all performing our Maghrib prayer together and some of them are still eating in front while the girls slowly take all the dishes to be wash and packing dishes to take back home. After finished clean up everybody are going back to their home. 

While laying on my bed I realise even though we still in the MCO mood, uncomfortable with all those SOP’s we must have to thank that we are still be able to see each other. Everybody is healthy and happy to celebrate Raya. By losing the loves ones among us actually makes our family relationship stronger and gain extra loves. This year I think, this is my best Raya ever, I still managed enjoying Raya in simple way but meaningful. Alhamdullilah.