Last day of Ramadan

Dilly Hussain

“Farewell Ramadan...”

1.       Look beyond material happiness and objects that will no doubt be replaced by another. Appreciate the cherished elements of life which we take for granted.

2.       Role models should assists in life’s problems, shed light at dark times, lead by example and offer experiences which you can relate to.

3.       Able bodied people should not rely on state help (besides what they are entitled to by law) to survive. Neither should they lock themselves up in a place of worship expecting God to work miracles while there are no sincere efforts to change one’s own situation.   

4.       Do not be overtaken by work on the expense of your spiritual life. Total isolation from society when social, political and economical duties are neglected is also not the way - find a fine balance between the two.

5.       Read and seek knowledge that will benefit your life and future.

6.       Do not be a slave to your whims and desires.

7.       Be honest and sincere when tackling obstacles to better yourself.

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I am gutted that Ramadan has come to an end for numerous reasons. However, I am looking forward to Eid (Friday), my plans and thoughts which will be shared with you for the last time tomorrow!

I have also been promising the advertising team that I will bestow them with my Mum’s homemade food, something they thought was only exclusive to the editorial team!

So without causing World War Three at BoS I have generously decided to distribute the delicious ‘spoils of Eid’ with both departments which are very dear to me.

So as a build up to Friday, I finished shopping for my Eid outfit, ironed my shalwaar kameez for prayer, sent my Fitrana (obligatory alms for the poor) to Pakistan and had a fresh haircut.

On the subject of haircuts, I witnessed the most funniest and what could have been the most disastrous episode at my local barbers.

Every year, two days prior to Eid the local barbers in Queens Park is PACKED and I mean sardine tin PACKED!

They open at 8am and shut at 1am bearing in mind that the barbers are fasting too.

When I went in today at midday, there was about 20 customers and two barbers. There were two young boys who were next to get the chop and they both asked for a ‘short back and side Mohican’.

Now considering both barbers are human, limited and flawed, they ended up giving both the lads a short back and side without a Mohican tail! Both boys finished at the same time and when shown the ‘final works’ they sat shocked staring at the mirror!

I was about to explode with laughter because I clearly heard them saying “short back and side Mohican” but the tail was missing at the back! The two boys happened to be cousins and went running home threatening to bring their Dads and refusing to pay.

Still holding my roar of laughter I anticipated what would happen in the next 600 seconds, only to see that the boys returned with the full money, head down saying “our Dads said that we’re not allowed to get a Mohican for Eid” and the whole shop burst out in tears.

I felt sorry for the young boys because it reminded me of when my Dad disliked me getting a ‘0.5 short back and side high fade’ at the age of 13. Perhaps that was one of my Dad’s ‘self reforming steps’ for a successful teenager?