Eid Al Fitr in UAE: Converts share heartfelt journeys to Islam as faithful gather to celebrate
People from diverse backgrounds, representing various ethnicities, races, and nationalities, stood shoulder to shoulder in their traditional attire to offer the Eid Al Fitr prayer and celebrate the joyous occasion together. This heartwarming scene unfolded at the Next Generation School in Al Barsha.
Among hundreds of faithful was Mariyam, a Russian, who came with her husband Ahmed and children, Eisa and Safiah. For her, the treatment of women in Islam became the path to embracing the faith. During her childhood, she had little exposure to practising Muslims.
"When I came to Dubai, I was amazed. I didn't know much about Islam, and the representation of the religion wasn't good on TV (back home). But here, I met people from different backgrounds, including converts from my own country, which made me curious about why they embraced Islam," Mariyam said.
One of the defining moments for her was seeing the respect given to women in the UAE. "One of the things that stood out for me was the Dubai Metro. There are women-only compartments and reserved seats for women, which intrigued me. When I studied Islam further, I realised how much respect it gives to women, more than anywhere else I had seen. This led me to embrace Islam in 2012, a year after moving to the UAE in 2011," said Mariyam.
Sahar, a Ukrainian living in the UAE for eight years, embraced Islam 30 years ago when she met her husband, Sadaqat Syed. They first crossed paths in Ukraine, where Sadaqat had gone to study engineering. After moving between several countries, they eventually settled in the UAE four years ago.
"During our college days, no books or internet resources were readily available to learn about Islam. My husband taught me about the religion," Sahar recalled.
The couple attended the prayer with their children, Sardar, Daniel, and Safia. "Every day, we learn new things about Islam and introduce it to other Ukrainians in the UAE."
Vaso, a research assistant at New York University in Abu Dhabi and originally from Montenegro, embraced Islam for three reasons. "I was living among Muslims, and they turned out to be the kindest people I had ever met in terms of sincerity, good conduct, and morals. Secondly, Islam makes more sense for a person seeking emotional fulfilment. Lastly, its teachings provide clarity and purpose in life."
Among the many gathered at the school was Yahya Van Rooy from Minnesota, USA. "I embraced Islam in 2016. From a young age, I was a spiritual seeker. I grew up in a Catholic family and attended Catholic school. My search for faith took me to India, where I explored Buddhism. Eventually, I ended up in Saudi Arabia, where I befriended Muslims and decided to learn about Islam. Step by step, I embraced it," said Yahya.
Living in Dubai for the past five years, Yahya expressed his love for the holy month, saying, "Eid celebrations have been wonderful. Ramadan is a blessed time for all of us, and I always look forward to it."
Amar Rahiman, a French, attended the Eid prayer with his wife Olivia, a Finnish, and their one-and-a-half-year-old son. For Olivia, who embraced Islam three years ago, it was the passing of her mother that led her toward spirituality and, ultimately, Islam. "In my distress, I was looking for deeper meaning, and I found Islam," she said. The couple has been residing in the UAE for seven years.
Latoya Benjamin, a Canadian with Jamaican roots, moved to Dubai eight years ago but found Islam in South Korea. "I discovered Islam through an American soldier stationed in South Korea. He was very kind to me, and I was surprised. I asked him, 'Why do you help me? Why are you so nice?' He explained that it was because of his faith," she said.
She was sceptical initially, but was encouraged to read the Quran and learn about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). "Once I started learning about Islam, I couldn't resist but embrace it."
Sheikh Ayaz, the Imam at Next Generation School and Khateeb at Al Manar Centre delivered a powerful khutbah, reminding worshippers not to let go of their good deeds after Ramadan. "As the holy month has passed, do not forget the acts of worship you performed, continue reciting the Quran, offering voluntary prayers, giving charity, and maintaining the spirit of Ramadan throughout the year."
The Eid gathering at Next Generation School was not just about prayers but also about unity, faith, and celebration. People of different backgrounds and cultures came together, bound by their shared beliefs and gratitude, making it a truly special occasion.
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