The blessed month of Ramadaan is drawing to a close and Eid is net ‘n klipgooi weg, so most of us are prepping for the special day of Labarang.
This year Eid will be on Sunday, 24 May, or Monday, 25 May, depending on the sighting of the new moon which will signal the end of Ramadaan.
As always, this was a special month of fasting in the Cape.
This year of course came with new challenges as the country went under lockdown to try and stem the tide of the Coronavirus pandemic.
We could not go to the mosque at any time - not for the five daily prayers, nor for the Taraweegh prayers, or night prayers that only occurs in Ramadaan.
It was tough on all of us, but I think more so on those Muslims who faithfully attend Taraweegh every year in the mosque.
Baie boetas en tieties het gehuil van disappointment but always with the comforting knowledge of “Allah knows best”.
The positive that came out of this is that in the end, we all got to bond with our immediate families on a spiritual level in our homes.
We also had access to the Taraweegh and the beloved poedjies on the radio, our phones and computers.
The Muslim radio stations hosted trawie programmes which kept the spirit of the 20 Raka’ats alive.
When it comes to the traditional bordjies, it was not business as usual, but I did darem receive a few koekies through the month.
STOPPED: Mass community boekas were missed this year due to Covid-19 lockdown rules
Then those koekies and samoosas went through a sanitising process and so every now and then I ate a daltjie that tasted like hand sanitiser, but Algamdulillah die intention van sanitising ommie virus weg te hou was daar.
Level 4 of the lockdown did not bring about much change, except now for those mense who were lucky enough to be called back to work, and more shopping options for those who still have money to spend.
Our mothers also caught a break as some nights daltjies and soup were off the menu to be replaced by takeaways.
I’m sure many of us were happy to hear that we might shift down to Level 3 before Labarang, but let’s be honest, in many areas in the Cape it’s like there’s no lockdown, except they can’t get their hands on legal entjies.
Also, social distancing is still very much at play so even if we were to go to Level 3, you will still not be able to drive around to go say slamat to family and friends.
So I was shocked to see people actually debating this topic on social media.
One young lady said someone must go tell her mother she won’t be able to visit on Eid, in other words, her mother expects her to stiek uit, Corona or not.
I ask you, groot kanala, please don’t do it, because Labarang is associated with three things that will definitely spread this virus - we shake hands, we hug and we soen-groet.
DIFFERENT: Muslims weren't allowed to attend prayers at mosques
There’s also rumours of traffic cops and Law Enforcement being on high alert on Eid to catch and fine or even lock up those who flog the lockdown rules.
My advice to the Muslims is, don’t be that escape artist, rather stay at home and spend the time with your lockdown family.
We have made it this far and we have made lots of du’ah so inshallah, the Almighty will remove the virus soon and then we all can go back to our “new normal” lives.
Let it not be said that the Muslims are the cause of this virus spreading exponentially.
Remember, in the Western Cape, 187 people have lost their lives to Covid-19 so far.
Also, what’s the point of being a good Muslim - fasting, reading the Qur’an and making salaah heel maand- but then you want to break the laws of the country you live in on this most blessed day?
The deen is very clear about obeying the law of the country you live in.
We are living in the age of cellphones and social media, so pick up your phone and wish each other Eid Mubarak on Facebook and Instagram and WhatsApp.
You can call, send videos and voice messages, and of course, there’s also Zoom for group chats.
But do not, I repeat, do not go all over the place this labarang.
With that said, slamat vir die labarang and may the almighty protect us all and spare us to see many more Cape Town Eid.
From my family to yours, Eid Mubarak.