Hi friends! A few days ago, Muslims around the world celebrated an important day. The 10th of Dhulhijjah marks Eid al-Adha. Happy Eid al-Adha to all our Muslim friends! May we all strengthen our faith, be blessed by Allah with peace, happiness, and a meaningful life. This year was my first Eid al-Adha in Auckland, my first time celebrating without my family. It felt different, yet familiar. I missed many moments in Indonesia, but at the same time, I felt grateful for the new experiences in New Zealand.
Something is Missing in This Year’s Eid al-Adha
I’ve been living in Auckland for almost a month now. Honestly, I’ve fallen in love with this city. The fresh air, beautiful scenery, and quiet atmosphere make me feel at home here. I’m also very excited to begin my doctoral studies. However, besides missing my family, there’s one big thing missing as a Muslim: the melodious sound of the call to prayer, Adzan.
Since leaving Indonesia, the call to prayer (Adzan) has been heard only on smartphones or laptops. I also haven’t heard the recitation of the Quran before and after prayer times from the mosque speakers. A few days ago, I also didn’t hear the takbir the night before Eid al-Adha. In Indonesia, the takbir echoes throughout the night, even on the way to the mosque for Eid al-Adha prayers.
Eid al-Adha prayers at Freemans Bay
Eid al-Adha in New Zealand falls on June 18, 2024, one day after Indonesia. It was funny when I wished my family in Indonesia Eid al-Adha on June 17, and they replied the next day š .
There’s an Eid al-Adha event nearby, right at the mosque on the AUT campus. However, my friends and I chose to go to Freemans Bay. I went with three friends: Ayes (my flatmate, who will definitely appear frequently in my posts later), Bu Prima (a fellow PhD student), and Rifka (a friend I met through Ayes). All are Indonesian.
The journey from the apartment to the Eid al-Adha prayer location is quite long: a 5-minute walk to the bus stop, a 15-minute bus ride, and then another 10-minute walk to the venue. Why go so far when there are closer options?
The Eid al-Adha prayer at Freemans Bay was organised by HUMIA (Himpunan Umat Muslim Indonesia Auckland– the Association of Indonesian Muslims in Auckland). So, we wanted to meet other Indonesian friends (and, of course, get some free foodāwell, just kiddingā¦ or not š ).
Prayers were held at the Freemans Bay Community Centre. It’s not a mosque, but the committee managed to transform the place into a prayer room and a socialising space that day. I was surprised to see so many congregants, not only Indonesians but also people from other ethnicities. The language spoken was a mix of Indonesian and English. Most touching of all: finally, after so long, I heard the sound of takbir, live again.
“Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ilallah Wallahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahil Hamd.” (Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no deity (no god) besides Allah, and Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest, and to Allah, all praises belong).
Happy with Friendsā¦ and Food
Besides Ayes, Bu Prima, and Rifka, I also met several familiar faces. There were also some I’d only heard of or chatted with before, like Adhis and Ira. I also got to know Adhis’ adorable little daughters, Zi and Zel. They all felt like a new family here.
And of course, food! It’s tradition: pray, meet family/friends, and then eat together. The menu is varied: rice, grilled ribs, beef soup, salad, various fruits, and traditional snacks. For children, there’s an additional sausage menu as a snack.
By the way, I had a funny experience. In Indonesia, as far as I know, grilled ribs are usually beef, while soup is usually goat/lamb (personal experience). So, I got grilled ribs and salad. I don’t like lamb (because of the smell), and it’s not recommended for me (health reasons). But it turns out, Bu Prima said, the grilled ribs I was eating were lamb! I should have stopped, butā¦ I kept eating š¤. Alhamdulillah, I’m fine, and I have to admit it tasted so good it was hard to stop š.
Closing
I do miss many things about Indonesiaāespecially my family, the call to prayer, and the unique atmosphere of Eid al-Adha. But I’m also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to live and study in Auckland.
Moral message from my experience:
- Don’t assume anything about the foodāask before you order! But I don’t regret it either, because the lamb ribs were absolutely delicious š .
- Always be grateful for what we have.
- Don’t be afraid to explore, experience new things, and meet new peopleāthey might just become your best friends.
Excellent
thank you