Eidul Adha Celebrations

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This Eid posting might be a little late but like they always say...better late than never. So here goes...

EPISODE 1
Suasana Eidul Adha di bumi Syam dapat dirasakan beberapa hari lagi sebelum 10 Dzul Hijjah. Penduduk sekitaran yang ingin membuat korban telah pun membeli kambing-kambing mereka sendiri. Ini memang tak dapat kita lihat di tanah air kita, Singapura. Apabila kita mula bertakbir pada hari Arafah, 9 Dzul Hijjah sebak di dada dapat dirasakan. Kami renungkan akan orang-orang yang telah dipilih Allah azza wa jalla untuk menunaikan haji yang sedang berwukuf. Alangkah bertuahnya. Air mata mula berlinangan apabila mengenangkan peristiwa 1420 tahun yang lalu di mana kekasih kami Rasulullah (alayhi solaatu wa salaam) telah menyampaikan khutbahnya semasa hajjatul wada’. Alhamdulillah, kami di Syam yang tidak berkesempatan membuat haji dapat berpuasa pada hari Arafah tersebuat dan berbuka beramai-ramai.

Perbezaan yang jelas beraya di sini adalah takbir yang bergema dilaungkan sejurus selepas solat subuh. Takbir dengan nada yang berlainan dari apa yang dilaungkan di Singapura. Secara jujur dapat dikatakan, takbir di sini amat bersemangat dan membangkit kan imaan. Mungkin sesiapa yang pernah beraya di tanah Arab tidak kira di Syam, Saudi atau Mesir merasakan apa yang kami rasa ketika bertakbir di sini.

Eidul Adha tahun ini juga lebih meriah bagi beberapa ahli Dmasyq dengan kedatangan keluarga mereka. Alhamdulillah, keluarga dari Sungapura dan beberapa ahli Dmasyq berkesempatan membuat korban dan “Embcy” telah menjadi pusat pengagihan daging korban. Alhamdulillah, rezeki pelajar murah ketika Eid.

Majlis Eid yang diadakan dua hari kemudiannya agak meriah dengan takbir, nasyid dan tadzkirah. Tidak lupa juga masakan enak dan BBQ yang diterajui oleh “pakar dendeng kami.” Kepada semua ahli yang telah berganding bahu menyumbangkan tenaga, bersengkang mata memotong daging dan memasaknya, akhawat kami yang selalu menyumbangkan manisan dan pencuci mulut untuk menjayakan majlis, kami ucapan ribuan terima kasih dan jazakumullahu khairan jaza’.

Next, “Rehlah To Wehdah” kami...

EPISODE 2
...بسم الله والحمد لله

Ever heard of Abang2 Baby? Or Cowboy Princess? You will not be able to understand, if you missed Rehlah 2 Wehdah!

Since Dmasyq's population is increasing rapidly over the years, a trip like this is very essential. To gather every single member, and get everyone actively involve with beneficial Games that amuse one another and most importantly tighten every gaps of Ukhuwwah.

On 13 Dzul Hijjah 1429H, 11Dec 08, despite of the chilling weather and empty stomachs, many were able to attend. Alhamdulillah, even though it fell on a nice-to-sleep weather, the Games transform us into energetic robots.

Every participant was grouped with 6 to 8 members a team, even husbands and wives participated. There were 4 teams of akhawat and syabab respectively. Amazingly, the groupings were perfect. Most teams were not very familiar with their team members. And this is the perfect interaction for deeper connection.

Due to media influences, the syabab became Transformers. From a normal one headed two legged human, they changed to 5 headed, 4 legged and 6 hands robot. Unbelievable! While akhawat self prepare and focus for Twister.

Trust.

Trust is what binds a strong relationship. And having to trust strangers is not easy, so games such as Spider and Octopus evolves the faith in our brothers and sisters. A raffia rope of 2 to 3 meters is creatively tightened to carry the leader of every team leader, regardless of their different size and weight. While Akhawat, wrote their group name with a marker which ends with several strings. Holding every side carefully, it is neatly written. A piece of Art!

Mental exercises and brain cracking sessions are what Circle in One did to us. Given 3 pieces of A4 size papers, they were asked to make a circle with a paper and fit every member. Fitting 7 to 8 people in that very Circle. HUH?! Is that possible?.. Jeng jeng… OF course!

This trip is not all about games and having fun, but it also provided us with self reminders. A Refreshment to our views, also a guide to our lives, which was reminded by our Ustadz Achmed Fahdly and also Ustadz Ismail Hashim. Moderated by Ustadz Sani.
It ended well, with beautiful smiles for camera. Presents were given to the winning teams and Nasi Lemak for every hungry stomach.

A memorable trip to share and I’m pretty sure many are looking forward for more! To those who couldn’t make it that very day, we missed your presence. It would have added more sparks to the meaningful trip.

Happily Ever After. Alhamdulillah.
The End.