Alone on the Hot Roads of Abroad: My Different Eid in Malaysia

Today is the holy Eid-ul-Adha. A great day shining with the glory of sacrifice. But for thousands of expatriates like me, this day is more of a memory than a joy. When the Eid moon appears in this busy life of Malaysia, the dusty roads of the country, the semai made by the mother's hands and the Eid chat with friends unknowingly float in the corner of my mind. However, there is no place to sit holding on to emotions in exile. Here, our life runs like clockwork, and the festivals are celebrated in a unique atmosphere of struggle.

This morning was different. As soon as I woke up, I remembered that today was Eid. Yet, all around me was that familiar mechanical city of abroad. There was no Eid song or noise in every neighborhood like in my country. Still, I prepared for the Eid prayers with a strange peace in my mind. My destination was the local mosque, but since I had no transportation at hand, I decided to walk the distance. The huge flyover and tarred roads of Puncak Perdana or Section U-10 in Shah Alam, Malaysia, became my lonely companions today.

When I started walking in sandals and simple clothes, the hot sky of Malaysia was above my head. Before my eyes were all the huge tall buildings and the concrete structure of the modern flyover. The signs along the road that read ‘UiTM Kampus’ or ‘Seksyen U10’ repeatedly reminded me that I was far from my beloved homeland. Yet, with every step, I felt that this hardship was for the pleasure of Allah. The festival of sacrifice, Eid-ul-Azha, teaches us that in order to get something big, one has to sacrifice small interests or comforts.

In the middle of my long journey, there was a strange combination of deep jungle and modern architecture on both sides. Sometimes, while walking under the flyover, it seemed as if these struggles in life were as long as this road. I was getting tired, but there was a strong desire in my heart to reach the mosque. For those of us living abroad, Eid does not just mean wearing new clothes; it is also a desperate effort to keep our culture and religious beliefs alive in a foreign land. There is a spiritual satisfaction hidden in walking miles and miles of roads to pray.

While walking on the road, I saw some other expatriate brothers walking like me. Perhaps their eyes also held a sigh for the people of the country they had left behind like me. Yet, we looked at each other and exchanged faint smiles, exchanging 'Eid Mubarak'. Perhaps this is the brotherhood of expatriation. When the minaret of the mosque finally appeared before my eyes, all the pain in my legs disappeared in an instant.

Today's Eid is not just a festival for me, it is an absolute lesson. This long journey has taught me that if the goal remains unwavering, neither the hot road nor loneliness can be an obstacle. I pray to the Almighty Allah, may He accept the hardships of our exile and spread the true glory of sacrifice in our lives. I extend my heartfelt congratulations on the holy Eid-ul-Azha to all my brothers and sisters in the country and abroad. May our loved ones be well, and may the Muslim Ummah around the world be in peace.

Eid Mubarak!