Eid El Fitr in Libya (Updated with photos)

It's 8.10 am and it's Eid a Fitr here in Libya . Ramadan has officially ended last night and I'm joyfull that once again I have been blessed to enjoy the Eid with my parents and family. Alhamdulilah ya Rab.

So feeling so warm and fuzzy I decided to write to you a little about Eid here before I go wear my nice outdoor clothes in readiness for all the guests , but also in reply to special requests by NBA and Twosret, and for anyone missing Libya :).

First NBA who wanted to know my opinion on 'suffering' in Ramadan while waiting for the Eid as related to this post by Syrian blogger Abufares, who says "Less than a week to go before Eid Al-Fitr ushers Ramadan away. This is a 3-day celebration after the one month of fasting. Eid simply means Holiday and the word Fitr is the antonym of Seyam (Fasting). So an approximate translation is the "Holiday of the Breaking of the Fast = Holiday of Eating".Indeed many people start eating with a vengeance. There will be one feast per day for three consecutive days. ".
Abufares is such a talented blogger , go check his blog and you will enjoy his dishes and stories about Syria, he is an ex- airline pilot too.

To answer your question, NBA, no I don't particularly suffer during Ramadan, I love it! I am not impatient or antisocial like Abufares is saying many fasting people are ( those are mostly heavy coffee drinkers and smokers I would guess). I think I'm more active as I don't worry about food and my mum can't nag me to finish my plate :P .
However, Abufares did bring up an important note : "The truth of the matter is that the last week of Ramadan for all the fasting kids (and on this point I'm still a kid) goes by very slowly. Time seems to stand still."

In Libya we describe this as follows : The first 10 days flow easily , the 10 middle days are OK, and the last 10 days of Ramadan 'salalat liglub'i.e. they are torture and drag endlessly. This is my rough translation - so any input of the original in Libyan are welcome, and I guess it means that some people unlike me do suffer from fasting ;)

I hope that answered your question NBA, as for Twosret, she wished to know what we do for the Eid and if it was similar than what the Muslims experience in Egypt? (Egyptians can share with us here ).

Eid El Fitr is my favourite Muslim feast, and it is one of the most important in the Muslim calendar, on a par with Christmas, it is not an orgy of food at least not in Libya . It is more of a time to put feuds and misunderstandings aside and thank God for his blessings. It is the time to forgive and be forgiven by friends and family . In brief it is a time to start a new leaf , turn the page and clean one's heart and soul in a process which started in Ramadan with the discipline of fasting. This is the real meaning of the Eid and Ramadan and this is what I strive for. My own jihad.


In Libya , people buy new clothes, shoes and toys for the children ; check Khadijateri here same as Leilouta recalled in Tunis and all over the Muslim world. Adults also buy new clothes but it is not really a must. Clean , well pressed would do just as well. We make the halawat el Eid , or Eid sweets, such as magrud ( date filled cookies) , graiba ( butter cookies) , baklawa and ca3k ( plain cookies ) - check all recipes here.


We stock on soft drinks and sweets and chocolate too for the kids and the visitors.
Above magrud and graiba, and on the left baklawa. These are my mum's homemade Eid sweets.







I love waking in the early morning to the lilting and poweful Takbir coming from the nearby mosque:


Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar,
laa ilaha illallah,
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar
wa lillahil-hamd
wa subhan Allah
wa alhamdu lilah
wa la hawla wala kowata illa bilah

God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
There is no deity but [the One] God
God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest
and to God goes all praise etc...

I love the Eid mostly for this part because of its immense effect in transplanting me to the times of the Blessed Prophet Mohamed . It reminds me of the most joyous moment, his triumphant entry in Mecca .


On entering Mecca the Takbir was recited by the Muslims, and when I hear it on the Eid I am so overwhelmed that my skin tingles and my heart squeezes and I feel the faith being renewed in my soul.

So people hear the Takbir and proceed to the mosque in the finest clothes for the Eid prayer. In Libya it is mostly the men who go to the Eid prayer. I watch them from my window ( facing the mosque) flocking from all the neighbourhood in droves , most dress in Libyan traditional clothes . But I see also many many non-Libyan and non- Arab foreigners and they all look united under one banner , Islam and thanking God. When I see that I still have hopes for our nation and I am reminded of this verse.

"When comes the Help of Allah, and victory, and thou dost see the people enter Allah's Religion in crowds, celebrate the Praises of thy Lord, and pray for His forgiveness: for His is Oft-Returning (in forgiveness). (AN-Nasr:1-3) ".

I can smell the dust and hear the sound of the horses hooves ....

The Takbir continues until it is time for prayer and as many participants have congregated .
"The Eid prayer (salah) is followed by the khutba (sermon) and then a prayer (dua') asking for forgiveness, mercy and help for the plight of Muslims across the world. It is then customary to embrace the persons sitting on either side of you as well as your relatives, friends and acquaintances.
Muslims spend the day thanking the Creator for all their blessings, as well as just having fun and enjoying themselves. Children are normally given gifts or money. Women (particularly relations) are normally given special gifts by their loved ones. Eid is also the time for reconciliations. Feuds or disputes, especially between family members, are often settled on Eid" [ref].

Children are also taken to the playground and entertainment parks and are given gifts of money too. I remember when my uncle gave me 10 Dinars 20 years ago! It was a treasure for me as 1 Dinar would have been more than enough. I ran to ask dad if I should accept this fortune or not , and he told me "it's Eid sweetie , it's ok take your uncle's gift " .We also visit friends and family and we call loved ones to wish them happy Eid.
Nowadays we also get text messages on the mobile . It is a time to strenghten the umbilical cord and rebuild the bridges that may have been burnt down. I am so sorry though that my grandmother is no longer with us , as I loved going to my granpa's house and eating the ftira with honey she would prepare in the morning for us and her unique tea. The Eid is also the time to go visit the tombs of our beloved and pray for them.

Final check ( not in any particular order)

(1) Money for the kids = yes ready
(2) bowls of sweets = yes
(3) house clean = yes
(4) clothes ready = yes
(5) drinks and tea and cakes = yes
(6) Did I kiss mum and dad = yes
(7) Prayers done = yes


I am of course most grateful for those of you Muslim and non-Muslim who made a special effort to find Eid cards and email them to me. That was so touching and I appreciate it. Because as I said Eid is very important to us Muslims and this Eid has a special meaning for me. So a big hug to each one from me here in Tripoli.

OK then let me go make myself pretty , call my friends and family and check my zillions of mobile messages !

To all Libyan and non - Libyan bloggers, friends and family
عيد مبروك علينا وعليكم و انشاء الله عايدين فايزين
EID MABROUK :)