Wait..didn’t Muslims just celebrate Eid?
There is only about one week away from Eid, a holiday for Muslims. You may be thinking,” didn’t you just celebrate Eid?” We actually have two Eids! We have one after Ramadan and one a few months after Ramadan that honors Prophet Ibrahim/ Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. This year Eid will start on July 9.
What is Eid Al-Adha?
Before Eid starts we’ll usually make some treats for the family, buy gifts for the kids, decorate the house, and pick out nice clothes to wear on Eid Day. On the day of Eid, we’ll go to the mosque to pray in the morning. The tradition for Eid al-Adha involves slaughtering an animal and sharing the meat in three equal parts – for family, relatives, friends, and poor people. Many people perform Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca around this time too. Check this link out for more details https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eid-al-Adha .
Our Tradition
A special tradition of mine is to buy children’s books related to our holidays for my children. We’ll read them a few days before Eid starts. It always makes them excited and they’ve started memorizing many of the stories. There aren’t as many books on Eid Al Adha as there are on Ramadan but we adore the ones we have. I’d love to share our favorite ones with you!
5 Children’s Books About Eid Al-Adha
Peg + Cat: The Eid al-Adha Adventure by Jennifer Oxley
If your child watches PBS kids then they may have seen this one!
“It’s Eid al-Adha, a very special holiday for Yasmina and Amir, who invite their friends Peg and Cat to check it out. After they all rock out with some singing, it’s time to head to the celebration, where there’s so much food waiting! Amir explains that an important part of celebrating Eid al-Adha is dividing the meat into three equal parts, one third to be shared with someone who has less. But with all three bowls of meatballs holding different amounts, they’ve got a BIG PROBLEM! Thanks to a balancing scale, a trip to a soup kitchen, and an unexpected visit to a housebound neighbor, Peg and Cat learn all about the concept of taking from where there’s more and giving to where there’s less. Even Cat discovers how awesome giving can be. Eid Mubarak!”( Author Description)
Going to Mecca by Naima Roberts
This was one of the first Islamic children’s books that I bought for my kids.
“Come with the pilgrims as they set out on a journey, a journey of patience to the city of Mecca.” We are led on the journey of a lifetime to the city of Mecca – the pilgrimage known to Muslims as the Hajj. The pilgrims walk with heads bare and feet in sandals; they call to Allah; they kiss or point to the Black Stone, as the Prophet did. Arriving at Mecca, they surge round the Ka’aba, shave their heads and travel to Mount Arafat. Finally, though their bodies are tired and aching, their spirits are uplifted, knowing that with thousands of others they have performed the sacred pilgrimage. This is a window on to a sacred journey for Muslims the world over – beautifully described and illustrated for younger children.”( Author Description)
Yan’s Hajj by Fawzia Gilani
This is one of my favorite children’s books about Hajj. Yan is a caring man who dreams of going to Hajj but he helps others before he makes his dream come true. This story is a great way to share the value of patience with children.
“Yan is a big-hearted young man determined to perform Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. But first, he must work hard on his farm and fill up his money bag for the journey. Despite the trials he faces on each unsuccessful trip to the Kaaba, Yan’s helpful nature, compassion, and generosity enable him to succeed in the end.” ( Author Description)
The Best Eid Ever by Mobin-Uddin
This story is so beautiful and really emphasizes the true spirit of Eid. Aneesa wanted to make Eid very special for her friend who was a refugee. I love books that inspire us to help others since it’s a major part of our religion.
“This Eid, Aneesa should be happy. But, her parents are thousands of miles away for the Hajj pilgrimage. To cheer her up, her Nonni gives her a gift of beautiful clothes, one outfit for each of the three days of Eid. At the prayer hall, Aneesa meets two sisters who are dressed in ill-fitting clothes for the holiday. She soon discovers that the girls are refugees – they had to leave everything behind when they left their native country to live in America. Aneesa, who can’t stop thinking about what Eid must be like for them, comes up with a plan – a plan to help make it the best Eid holiday ever. “ ( Author Description)
Migo and Ali : Love for the Prophets by Zanib Mian
This book isn’t directly about Eid but it has the story of prophet Ibrahim/ Abraham and other prophets. Learning about the Prophet Ibrahim ( peace be upon him) is essential to teaching children about Eid. This book presents the stories in a very fun way for children.
“This delightful hardback book contains vibrantly illustrated stories of the prophets, from Adam (as) to Muhammad (saw). These stories are concise, and told in engaging, child-friendly language. A delightful question and answer session after each story is also unique in its style, depicted as a conversation between the two lovable characters. Ali pretty much asks Migo the questions that will be on your child’s mind.” ( Author Description)
