Majida Rashid
Eid is a time to forgive and make amends!
Eid to Muslims is what Christmas is to Christians. Every year Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, and all intimate activities.
Every fast starts with a meal that in Arabic is called Sahoor. Its timing is a couple of hours before sunrise. Eating has to stop the moment one hears Azan, the call to Fajr prayer, which is about an hour before sunrise.
While freshly prepared local food is eaten during Sahoor, the fast is broken worldwide by eating a few dates and drinking a little water. Those who are fasting always keep these two items with them in case Iftar happens when they are on the road. This gently activates the stomach. In Pakistan we also make lemonade called Shakanjabeen. Since its purpose is to hydrate the body, its flavor is much different from American lemonade. It has water, salt, sugar, and fresh lime.
Afterwards Maghrab, or evening prayers, are said and a regular dinner along with tea or the usual hot beverage is consumed. Then Isha, or night prayer, along with 20 Rakahs of Traweeh follow. It can take up to an hour in a mosque because they recite longer Qur’anic verses during each Traweeh. One Rakah is the cycle of starting the prayer standing up, bending the knees without touching the floor and then prostrating by touching the floor with just the forehead. There is no effigy in front of the prayer mat. Mulims believe Allah is Noor, which is Divine white light.
The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, so the day of Eid al-Fitr cannot be predetermined since a lunar month can have either 29 or 30 days. On the 29th day of Ramadan, after breaking the fast, everyone gets out of the house to see the new moon. If the moon is sighted, by the government committee, then Eid is celebrated the next day. Otherwise fasting is extended for another day. Sighting of the moon on the 29th day of Ramadan brings excitement, but it also creates chaos for adults because last minute preparations must be done for the next day. Feasting and festivity prevail on Eid and everyone wears new clothes and new shoes. Adults usually hope and pray for Eid to be after the 30th fast as this gives an extra day for the preparations.
After seeing the moon, every household busy themselves with last minute cleaning, cooking and getting clothes ready for the next day. Stores, in predominately Muslim countries, stay open into the early hours of the morning. Everything shuts down before sunrise on the day of Eid. The celebration lasts for three days.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated after two months and either nine or ten days, depending on the moon sighting.
This year’s Eid al-Fitr was on April 10. Just like any other celebration, lavish food is prepared that varies from country to country. In Pakistan and South Asia this Eid cannot be imagined without Sheer Khorma — a dish made with vermicelli. It can be purchased from a Pakistani or Indian store.
1 5.29 oz (150grams) packet Pakistani vermicelli
3-4 oz unsalted butter
5 tablespoons cooking oil
3 whole cardamoms
1 - 1-1/2 cups sugar
6 cups full cream warm milk
1/2 cup skinned and slivered almonds
1/2 cup thinly sliced pistachios
1 tablespoon freshly ground cardamoms
2 tablespoons sliced pistachios for decoration
Eid to Muslims is what Christmas is to Christians. Every year Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, and all intimate activities.
Every fast starts with a meal that in Arabic is called Sahoor. Its timing is a couple of hours before sunrise. Eating has to stop the moment one hears Azan, the call to Fajr prayer, which is about an hour before sunrise.
While freshly prepared local food is eaten during Sahoor, the fast is broken worldwide by eating a few dates and drinking a little water. Those who are fasting always keep these two items with them in case Iftar happens when they are on the road. This gently activates the stomach. In Pakistan we also make lemonade called Shakanjabeen. Since its purpose is to hydrate the body, its flavor is much different from American lemonade. It has water, salt, sugar, and fresh lime.
Afterwards Maghrab, or evening prayers, are said and a regular dinner along with tea or the usual hot beverage is consumed. Then Isha, or night prayer, along with 20 Rakahs of Traweeh follow. It can take up to an hour in a mosque because they recite longer Qur’anic verses during each Traweeh. One Rakah is the cycle of starting the prayer standing up, bending the knees without touching the floor and then prostrating by touching the floor with just the forehead. There is no effigy in front of the prayer mat. Mulims believe Allah is Noor, which is Divine white light.
The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, so the day of Eid al-Fitr cannot be predetermined since a lunar month can have either 29 or 30 days. On the 29th day of Ramadan, after breaking the fast, everyone gets out of the house to see the new moon. If the moon is sighted, by the government committee, then Eid is celebrated the next day. Otherwise fasting is extended for another day. Sighting of the moon on the 29th day of Ramadan brings excitement, but it also creates chaos for adults because last minute preparations must be done for the next day. Feasting and festivity prevail on Eid and everyone wears new clothes and new shoes. Adults usually hope and pray for Eid to be after the 30th fast as this gives an extra day for the preparations.
After seeing the moon, every household busy themselves with last minute cleaning, cooking and getting clothes ready for the next day. Stores, in predominately Muslim countries, stay open into the early hours of the morning. Everything shuts down before sunrise on the day of Eid. The celebration lasts for three days.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated after two months and either nine or ten days, depending on the moon sighting.
This year’s Eid al-Fitr was on April 10. Just like any other celebration, lavish food is prepared that varies from country to country. In Pakistan and South Asia this Eid cannot be imagined without Sheer Khorma — a dish made with vermicelli. It can be purchased from a Pakistani or Indian store.
Sheer Khorma
Ingredients:1 5.29 oz (150grams) packet Pakistani vermicelli
3-4 oz unsalted butter
5 tablespoons cooking oil
3 whole cardamoms
1 - 1-1/2 cups sugar
6 cups full cream warm milk
1/2 cup skinned and slivered almonds
1/2 cup thinly sliced pistachios
1 tablespoon freshly ground cardamoms
2 tablespoons sliced pistachios for decoration
Directions:
Heat the oil and butter over medium heat.
Remove the cardamom skin and fry the seeds for a minute.
Break the vermicelli into small lengths and sauté, stirring continuously, in the butter-oil until its color changes to golden brown.
Add sugar and stir until it’s almost incorporated.
Pour in the milk and stir continuously until sugar is dissolved.
Add the nuts and cook over low heat, stirring from time to time.
Let the milk reduce to less than half.
Stir in the ground cardamom, turn off the heat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
Pour into a serving dish and decorate with sliced pistachio, cover and refrigerate overnight.
It can be served as a part of main meal or with tea or coffee.
(Serves 6)
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Foodie Majida Rashid lives in Texas. Food and cooking are her passion. Her presentation about her love of food can be viewed on USA Today’s network: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=l0xi566VSPo – We Spread Love Through Food @Frontiers_Of_Flavor. Her philosophical writing can be read at apakistaniwomansjourney.wordpress.com.
