Saving Eid Ul Fitr Moon
A story for kids
Author: Saima Nadeem
*Saving Eid-ul-Fitr Moon*
"No one understood what was going on. As the last week of Ramadan began, and someone was trying to ruin preparations for Eid -ul-Fitr, the sweet Eid. People were not getting paid before Eid and they were not able to buy things for Eid. Someone had hacked the government systems, banks, and ATM machines. People were not able to go to their hometowns as petrol was not available anywhere. Eid supplies could not reach the shops. There was a shortage of meat, vegetables and spices in the shops. Wania and Amna also barely survived Eid as their dad hardly managed to arrive at their grandparent's house just the day before eid on night of 29th Ramadan. The Shawal moon was not sighted on that night and the most awaiting day of the year, Eid ul Fitr, slides away for one more day. It was 30th and the last Ramadan of the year.
"We were on our way yesterday when suddenly the petrol pump system of the whole country sat down. We also had Iftar on the way." Amna was also very annoyed. She was very tired.
"Thank God the Eid moon was not sighted otherwise we wouldn't have arrived on time, ' Wania told her cousin Eshal.
"And it's happening again and again. There are still a lot of people stuck on the roads," said Areeba.
"All the markets here are without electricity. The shopkeepers can not even run the generator due to lack of petrol. Yesterday, I also went to the market with my Mom to buy Eid clothes but didn't got anything. The tailors were also worried because there was no electricity. Mom clothes were not found either. It will be seen again today, 'said Eshal.
"Yes, but how strange that the moon of Eid did not appear all over the world yesterday, although according to the scientists and according to age of the moon, there were many signs of the first moon appearing."said Areeba.
"According to the Rumor, it is being heard that someone has made the Eid moon disappear from the sky. The Eid moon has been hijacked," said Huzaifa Bhai and Hassan.
"We have not even been able to play games since the internet is down." Now both boys were in a bad condition due to fasting and anger.
"Why are you all scrambling here and there? You should thank Allah for another fast. Go and offer the Asr prayer and then recite the Quran." Just then said their Grandfather Yamin.
"There is someone who wants to spoil our Eid. Our government is looking for this person but has not found him yet. Once I finds him, I will not let him go," said Hazifa Bhai. He and other kids offered prayer and came upstairs holding a bat and a ball.
'I hate Eid, the preparations for Eid and the joy of Eid. I hate the people laughing and playing and shopping for Eid. My heart wants me to close all the shops or ban Eid shopping. Everybody's Eid must pass sadly just like my childhood's many Eids. This time I will make a plan that no one's Eid will pass happily, ' Wali thought looking at his computer screen.
He had hacked the country's security cameras and many online systems. Now he was happy to see all the markets and streets of the city empty on his computer screen.
And if the moon of Eid is not in the sky then how can it be seen, ' he began to laugh.
'..There will be no Eid moon, no new dresses, no invitations for parties and all the kids will get old notes as Eid money .
The sad, poor and lonely Eid ... Congratulations to all! '
Laughing, he came to a large glass tube where the first Shawwal's delicate and thin moon was imprisoned. On the first night of Shawwal, the moon was constantly trying to come out.
"No meat, rice and other items from any shop. Petrol pumps are closed and things cannot reach the market and most of the ATM machines have not been working for a week and people have no money. Today is the last day. The moon of Eid did not appear yesterday but now tomorrow will be Eid in any case. People are very worried about the whole situation. No one can prepare for Eid, ' Wania's Father came from outside and told.
"What will happen now? We have invited the whole family on the day of Eid," said grandma anxiously and looked back.
"Listen, you come early tomorrow. There will be a lot of work tomorrow. I hope the problem will be solved by night."said grandma to the maid.
'Mam my kids get sad without me. My whole day of Eid is spent here. Can I bring them too?'
"No, you can go quickly and take food etc. Already, there will be so many guests and then your children will create mess. And yes, I will give you Eid money tomorrow," said grandma.
"There is some stuff in the fridge but it will not be enough for the wonderful feast of Eid. I hope the shops would be restocked by night. May the problem be solved," Grandma said.
'Six...,' children were playing on roof top.
"At least the kids are happy now..." said Eshal's mother.
"But, I still can't get new notes for Eid money from the bank. Maybe the kids will get old notes. All kids will be sad with the old notes," said uncle, thinking.
"Don't be so impatient my friend, I will set you free in an hour or two. People respond overjoyed to see you in the sky at this time of year and I don't want that," Wali touched the glass tube.
"And without seeing the moon, everyone's joy of Eid will be incomplete. It is just going to be an ordinary evening and there will be an empty sky and my happiness,' Wali began to sway with joy but stopped noticing the lot of hustle and bustle in the house in front. The noise of children could be heard from the roof top. Mr. Yamin's children and grandchildren were gathered. Wali came to balcony.
"It seems that his eldest son and his family has reached from Lahore to celebrate Eid, that is why everyone is delighted.
"There is no help. I can't do anything to make Eid sad. Sad Eids were only in my destiny... only in my destiny, ' Wali was sighing.
"Ah, this Ramadan is also coming to an end. What a joy and bliss there is in the month of Ramadan. There is always a competition to do promising deeds in this holy month." Two men pass by a road.
"Lies ... everything is a lie. No one tries to do good from the heart. If these people do not even give the right to the rightful, then what is the use of giving charity," Wali closed his eyes.
'Money ... what money ... Get out of here," '
"Master, straight I came from school and worked on three vehicles. I did not even break my fast properly. Many has to travel to hometown on Eid, so they come for the car work and you said that you will pay me separately for more work,"
"Get out of here, I have no money ..."
'But ...'
Master picked up a stick and the Wali ran home.
"Out ... Yay ...," the noise on the front roof became louder, and so did Wali's anger.
Hearing the noise, a sevens years old boy from the side house came upstairs with his sister and started playing. He had a very expensive football in his hand. Behind the children was an eleven or twelve year old girl. She was their maid.
'You didn't go home to celebrate Eid!' Areeba looked at the girl and asked.
"Mam said that there is a lot of work to be done on Eid and you should leave later."
"Come on ... come on ..." the boy called her and the football hit on the girl's head.
"Hahaha... Mama forbade you not to talk to anyone that why I hit you," Now the boy and his sister were laughing.
'Come down Mahnoor, make iftar,' a voice came from downstairs, so they all went back.
"These children are very rude and their mom always blame the poor maids for this," Areeba lamented.
Wali was watching all this from his balcony. Pain, sorrow, regret, revenge ... Filled to the heart. He came in quickly and began to tighten the tube of the Eid moon. The moon was getting smaller and deformed. Now it was straightening instead of a crescent. Its round shape was getting worse. Wali was venting his anger on the moon.
Wali told his story to the moon.
'I will buy new clothes for you too,' Wali said.
"It's also new . Mam's son has only worn it once," Wali's Mom said.
"You're lying. Look how torn it's collar is and the color is off."
"Look at this. Mam bought it from a very expensive shop. What they say is... it is branded," she paused.
"It's brand new, her son only didn't like these black stripes, "
"I don't like these black lines either and it's not my style too. I just need a new suit on Eid...my suit," he cried.
"Where can I get a new suit? You know how hard it is for me to feed five children. Mam didn't even give me any extra money for Eid and your father doesn't care," she began to cry.
"Well, I will wear it, but I want new shoes." he surrendered.
"I told Mam that if there are some shoes ... well, if Mam pays before Eid, I will take your new shoes," paused his mother again.
"Rather, I will take it after Eid. Mam will give the money for Eid only on the day of Eid. Mam has to give clothes and shoes to the children of the orphanage as well. Zakat and charity are separate. Their hand is tight."
"Please don't go on work on Eid," he said.
"My dear ... I will come soon then we will go out," she loved him. He knew it would not happen.
He was wearing old clothes and old shoes and he was waiting for his mother all the day of Eid.
"Don't worry, my Son. Just work hard. After you graduate, we will celebrate many Eids together," assured his mom.
Then on one Eid while coming back from work his mother died in an accident and then no one gave him the Eid money of old notes that year.
Now his heart was neither in studies nor in workshops. He was only a ten year old child. How could he sleep alone? One day his teacher hit him hard. He knew that when he went home his father would also beat him so he ran away from there.
He kept running that someone grabbed him. He was a good man and he put him in a orphanage.
Now, on every Eid, many rich people came and distribute new clothes and shoes among the orphans and he would look for his mother in these clothes. He continued his studies according to his mother's wish and became a computer engineer but
he never forgot his sad Eids and his helplessness.
He squeezed the tube of the moon hard because as the time of Iftar was approaching, and the moon was forcing to come out. It was trying to be free.
'What are you doing throw the ball?' Huzaifa Bhai raised his voice.
"I'm trying to see Eid Moon," said Eshal.
'Show me too, where the Eid moon is,' said Amna.
"Don't you know that the Eid moon appears immediately after the Maghrib prayers," said Hassan.
"We will come after Iftar. Just pray that the clouds don't come," Wania said also started looking at the sky.
Huzaifa Bhai hit a six on the first ball and the ball flew and fell on the lawn of a house across the street. All the children peeked from the roof and got upset.
'Oh no! Uncle Wali live there and he is very strict. He will never give us the ball,' said Areeba.
"I also find him very strange. There are weird machines in his house,'said Huzaifa.
"If we go down, grandfather will start advising again. It is better to bring the ball," said Hassan.
'Who will get it?'
"First, Me, Eshal and Areeba will go. If they don't give the ball, then you two come," suggested Wnia. They all came down the street.
The blessed month of Ramadan was about to come to an end after sprinkling all its bounties. Where there was sadness of ending of this month then there was also a joy of Eid day. Happiness was earned because the day of Eid is a reward for the fasting people from Allah.
Wania rang the doorbell in fear. No one came from the house. After a long wait, when no one came out, Hassan and Huzaifa came closer. Hassan peeked through the wall and there was a ball in the front lawn.
But not only the ball, Hassan also saw something strange from the window of the room. There was a strange light coming out of the curtains of the room. Something strange was there. Hassan jumped inside out of curiosity.
All the children were amazed at Hassan's attempt. Hassan peeked out of the window and saw that it was unbelievable. The Eid moon was closed in a big tube. There was a computer and a wire network in the room. Wali's eyes fell on Hassan. He pulled Hassan inside and also locked him in a tube.
When Hassan didn't come out for a while, all the other children came in to help him. Seeing Hassan locked up, everyone got upset.
When Wania did not understand anything, she picked up the ball in her hand and threw it on a computer. The system got down. Huzaifa pressed the button and
Hassan was got released. They all tried to tie Wali but Wali got up and ran near to his computer. He then locked the house. Now all the children were going to be imprisoned there.
Huzaifa then picked up a chair and throw it to the main system. Areeba cut the wires with her ring. Wania reached near the system and changed all the programming. The Shawaal Eid moon was released and Wali was put in the tube.
They were about to call the police.
"Stop," suddenly a very beautiful voice enchanted them. When everyone looked back, it was shining, the bright and white Eid moon, the crescent, which was now floating inside the room.
"But why....He was about to ruin Eid happiness"Wania asked.
"O Lord of the Universe, forgive the sins of all Muslims and accept their fasts and acts of worship," Moon talked with
compassion.
"Pray as this time prayers get accepted."
All the children raised their hands in prayer. There was a beautiful feeling everywhere.
They were all amazed that the Moon came near to Wali floating in the air and touched his head.
'I know you had a painful childhood. You suffered a lot but your mother has left a lot of prayers for you that are still with you today. Your mother never wanted you to be like this.S he just wanted you to be a successful person. Be the voice of those whom no one listens to, who are still suffering from the abuse and indifference of society. I know you can do it all. I pray to God to give you peace and show the straight path ,Amen,"
as if the prayer of Eid moon was accepted before it was completed. Wali sat on the floor and began to weep bitterly and ask forgiveness for his sins, how many people were upset because of him.
"Eid is a reward... a gift from Allah...then who is he to ruin this for any reason..?" he was crying.
It was time for Iftar. Baba came out looking for them. He had in his hand a tray full of Iftar items for Wali. Eid moon came out of the window s. All the children also came home and began the Iftar.
Now the Eid moon was smiling in the sky and people were happily shopping for Eid.
The children were happy that they had saved the Eid moon and Eid al-Fitr. They all had an amazing Eid although there was little time to prepare for the Eid.
Everyone was happy, but Wali was doing something very important. A few days later he was successful in passing a law on the rights of domestic workers and child labor from the government. He was stirring up people's indifference against child molesters. Strict punishments were meted out due to his efforts. Now he was the voice of so many poor people. his charities were helping people everywhere. Now his Eids were calm and he never tried to make any child's Eid sad.
The End
And of course Wania, Amna, and their cousins were Wali's companions in this good deed.