30-03-2025
Dubai: Children get surprise Dh500 Eidiya for attending Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan
For brothers Omar, Ebrahim, and Abdullah, praying Taraweeh with their parents and cousins this Ramadan was extra special. Not just because of the spiritual experience of praying, but also because of a surprise reward that was waiting for them.
Many children who attended Taraweeh prayers and collected stamps in their 'Ramadan Passports' were gifted Dh500 as Eidiya after presenting their stamped booklets.
Among the hundreds of children who participated in the initiative was five-year-old Omar Lowna, along with his brothers Abdullah, 13, and Ebrahim, 11, who made it a family tradition to attend Taraweeh prayers every night.
Although they only learned about the Ramadan passports halfway through the holy month, they managed to collect five stamps before the initiative ended. 'We mostly prayed at Shaikha Hind Masjid in Za'abeel 2, but also visited Grand Za'abeel Masjid and Al Twar Masjid,' said Abdullah.
'For Qiyam, we went to Masjid Majeed in Al Jaddaf because our favourite Imam, Abdullah Ubeidli, was leading the prayers there,' he added. Along with receiving Eidiya, the brothers were delighted to get vouchers and ice cream after prayers.
Their father, Sameer Lowna, said the experience strengthened their faith and brought the family closer together. 'It was heartwarming to see my sons so committed to their prayers. We often went as a family and, sometimes, their cousins joined us too,' he said.
'After Taraweeh at Masjid Shaikha Hind, they even attended a Zakat Al Fitr learning session and were given a bag of rice to donate. This Ramadan has been a meaningful journey for them, not just in prayer but also in learning and giving back.'
Similarly, Mohammed Hamdan Khan, 12, and his younger brother, Mohammed Azlan Khan, 10 — who study at the School of Research Science — were thrilled to receive their Eidiya.
'We went for Taraweeh prayers every night with our father. It was tough sometimes, but we were always excited,' said Hamdan. 'Sometimes, after Taraweeh, we got ice cream, which made it even more fun. But the best moment was when we got the Eidiya on Thursday after presenting our passport.'
Their father, Muhammad Farhan Khan, who drove them from their residence in Silicon Oasis to Nad Al Sheba mosque every night, was equally excited. 'They were always ready to go for the Taraweeh prayers. It was the peak of happiness for them during Ramadan. And yes, obviously, the Eidiya was unexpected and made it more exciting for them,' he said.
Sameeh El Katib, a four-year-old resident of Nad Al Sheba, attended Taraweeh prayers every night with his elder brother, Omar El Khatib. 'At the beginning of Ramadan, we received our passports and, from that day, we made sure to attend Taraweeh every night,' said Omar. 'We were surprised when a friend told us that they received Dh500 as Eidiya. He told us to go to a centre in Mirdif and collect it,' said El Katib.
'After showing our stamped passport, we were also given Dh500. We had a total of 26 stamps. We missed a few days because we had Iftar at our relatives' homes and prayed at different mosques,' added Al Katib.
The initiative, supported by Emaar, aimed to encourage children to embrace the spirit of Ramadan by regularly attending Taraweeh prayers. Many young worshippers participated, collecting stamps each night as a record.
