I would like to wish everybody a very Happy Eid Mubarak.

Its understandable why people have not been contributing over the last week as it was probably all the preparation leading up to Eid that must have occupied everyone.

Cleaning the home, buying new clothes, planning the events for the day and following days, phoning all the relatives abroad to greet them Eid Mubarak (Man. do I have a red ear after speaking to my gazillion relatives).

Yes, we have to spend sometime with the family and entertaining guests with shirkurma (sweet dish). As well as hug all the brothers (favourite bit) and enjoy the day off work/school/uni etc.

But after all the traditional and mandatory stuff how do we brothers enjoy ourselves on this auspicious occasion?

Well, for this past Eid, I can say I had quiet an enjoyable and memorable day and days subsquently afterwards.

The point is in non - muslim lands, what type of Halal Fun can we gain pleasure. For starters you need a house full of brothersi.e no parents in the house. All the old mates from high school, college and University. Secondly, you need a plan for the evening leading up to Fajr time. Have snacks and drinks at your disposal. Thirdly, for some brothers have a console (Xbox) with Halo 2 with two TVs and a link up cable so 8 of them can enjoy blowing each other up. For the less impulsive brothers, a board game like RISK which involves taking over the world with your army (warning a 6 player game will last over 3 hours), for more chatty brothers provide a room with a sheesha with double apple flavour tobacco , so that they can puff their way into the night talking about ….emm..well … anyone care to discuss, can the creator create a rock that he cannot lift???? OR whatever comes to mind after being inspired by the sheesh.

Lo, behold the night comes to an end, we all read our Fajr in Jammah and then call it a day!

But the fun does not necessarily have to end, you still can make plans to meet up all those people you haven’t manage to chill with. Book out a restaraunt and invite all the bros so that you can have one heck of a meal! Kebabish or Kebab Land are two places I would recommend.

I guess what would be a very good night story before going to bed would be to find out how the Prophet (saw) and the Sahaba would celebrate Eid, can anyone recommend a book?

And guess what, I still managed to get some Eidee despite that fact that I am nearly finishing University!

But on a serious note, we should remember what month has just past us and maintain the level of taqwa of what we have achieved in Ramadhan. Also to fast 6 days in shawaal (this month) for some much needed reward from our Creator, the One and Only All-Mighty Allah (swt)!