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Pashtuns distribute sweets and goodwill
By Mian Mujahid Shah October 16, 2013
SHARJAH: The first day of Eid Al Adha was celebrated across the UAE and Middle East on Tuesday with great fervour.
Hundreds of thousands of believers thronged mosques and Musallahs (open-air mosques) to offer Eid prayers.
Imams (clerics) delivered special sermons to highlight the significance of the day and the purpose of the sacrifice rendered by the Holy Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (PBUH) centuries ago.
The faithful prayed in the mosques and Musallahs for the country and the Muslim Ummah’s prosperity, solidarity and integrity.
The Imams also prayed for the UAE Rulers and Royal families.
After the Eid prayers, believers greeted each other and some sacrificed camels, cows, sheep, rams and goats in the name of Allah.
Pashtuns or Pathans and especially the tribal people, living in the UAE, also marked the occasion with great enthusiasm.
The tribal Pashtuns also celebrate the UAE national day with great interest.
The tribal Pashtuns organise the popular tribe dance (Attan) and other musical parties on the UAE National Day.
The joyous celebrations made war-weary tribal Pashtuns forget the battle and its hardships back home and for a change were distributing sweets instead of bullets and guns.
Famous for their straightforwardness and hospitality across the world, Pashtuns celebrated this joyous day with relatives and friends in their “second home,” in the same way as they do back home.
However, for many of the expats including Pashtuns, their loved ones back in their home country performed the ritual of sacrificing animals on their behalf.
In fact, such is the largeheartedness of the Pasthun that even if he is poor and can’t afford a big party, he would definitely not fail to offer at least a cup of tea on the day.
The Gulf Today got an opportunity to share the joyous moments with some of the tribal Pashtuns after Eid Al Adha prayers in different areas of Sharjah and Dubai.
Abdul Hameed Khan, an accountant with a Sharjah-based firm, hailing from Sadda, Kurram Agency, and celebrating his first Eid Al Adha outside his home, misses his family, but he is happy to celebrate the occasion with relatives and friends in the UAE.
He says that the sudden pleasant weather will add more colour in the week-long celebration.
“The weather is not too hot for an outing, so I along with my friends have planned to go to Al Ain for a day-long picnic,” Hameed says, adding that the tribal people are also fond of BBQ, so the Al Ain Park is the best place for such events.
Zareen Shah, working as an instructor in Emirates Driving School Dubai and hailing from Lower Kurram Agency, says that tribal Pashtuns are very organised and disciplined and loving people.
Revealing his Eid plans, Shah says, “On the second day of Eid, we have planned to go to Fujairah for a get-together. We are also planning to organise a music programme in which our brothers will perform the famous tribal local dance known as Attan, which will double our Eid joys.”
Another tribesman, Bahadar Khan, who has been working for the last 23 years in Dubai, praises the wise leadership of the UAE for accepting the presence of over 200 nationalities.
“We never forget the love of great Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May Allah rest his soul in peace) for Pakistanis and especially for tribal Pashtuns. He was not just the leader of the UAE, but also the whole Muslim world,” says Khan.
“We are devoted Pashtuns and we will work for the betterment and prosperity of the UAE till our death,” an emotional Khan adds.
Another tribesman, Shahid Rehman, working as a driver in Dubai, says the UAE was the best place for any celebration. Being a Muslim country, Eid Al Adha celebrations compounded the joy of expats.
“I found the UAE to be the best place on Earth. Tribal people organise get-togethers and musical parties during Eid, which not only entertain the community members but locals and other nationals too,” Rehman remarks.
He added, “We have been planning to go to Al Alin (Jabel Hafeet) to celebrate our Eid holidays. A majority of our Pashtun brothers are living in Al Ain, and some of my friends are also working there.
“We will sacrifice a sheep there and enjoy a barbecue at the Al Ain Zoo park.”
Noor Rehman says that the UAE is one of the most peaceful and beautiful countries in the world. He states that he is socially active and always keeps contact with his tribal brothers and relatives. He also likes travelling and reveals that to mark the day he is planning to go on a desert safari with his Pathan friends.
Asmat Khail, also from Kurram Agency, hails the unity of the Pashtun community in the UAE.
“Eid is a gift of joy from Allah. It brings happiness in the life of Muslims. While we enjoy Eid, we should not ignore those brothers who are in trouble in our country or elsewhere,” expresses Khail.
gulftoday.ae | Pashtuns distribute sweets and goodwill
* I find some of the content here a bit flowering and excessive e.g. how the UAE leader is the leader of the Muslim world etc, but nevertheless a good article, contrary to the other propaganda out there seeking to potray Pashtuns or "Pathans" as terrorists, inherently violent and backwards.
By Mian Mujahid Shah October 16, 2013
SHARJAH: The first day of Eid Al Adha was celebrated across the UAE and Middle East on Tuesday with great fervour.
Hundreds of thousands of believers thronged mosques and Musallahs (open-air mosques) to offer Eid prayers.
Imams (clerics) delivered special sermons to highlight the significance of the day and the purpose of the sacrifice rendered by the Holy Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (PBUH) centuries ago.
The faithful prayed in the mosques and Musallahs for the country and the Muslim Ummah’s prosperity, solidarity and integrity.
The Imams also prayed for the UAE Rulers and Royal families.
After the Eid prayers, believers greeted each other and some sacrificed camels, cows, sheep, rams and goats in the name of Allah.
Pashtuns or Pathans and especially the tribal people, living in the UAE, also marked the occasion with great enthusiasm.
The tribal Pashtuns also celebrate the UAE national day with great interest.
The tribal Pashtuns organise the popular tribe dance (Attan) and other musical parties on the UAE National Day.
The joyous celebrations made war-weary tribal Pashtuns forget the battle and its hardships back home and for a change were distributing sweets instead of bullets and guns.
Famous for their straightforwardness and hospitality across the world, Pashtuns celebrated this joyous day with relatives and friends in their “second home,” in the same way as they do back home.
However, for many of the expats including Pashtuns, their loved ones back in their home country performed the ritual of sacrificing animals on their behalf.
In fact, such is the largeheartedness of the Pasthun that even if he is poor and can’t afford a big party, he would definitely not fail to offer at least a cup of tea on the day.
The Gulf Today got an opportunity to share the joyous moments with some of the tribal Pashtuns after Eid Al Adha prayers in different areas of Sharjah and Dubai.
Abdul Hameed Khan, an accountant with a Sharjah-based firm, hailing from Sadda, Kurram Agency, and celebrating his first Eid Al Adha outside his home, misses his family, but he is happy to celebrate the occasion with relatives and friends in the UAE.
He says that the sudden pleasant weather will add more colour in the week-long celebration.
“The weather is not too hot for an outing, so I along with my friends have planned to go to Al Ain for a day-long picnic,” Hameed says, adding that the tribal people are also fond of BBQ, so the Al Ain Park is the best place for such events.
Zareen Shah, working as an instructor in Emirates Driving School Dubai and hailing from Lower Kurram Agency, says that tribal Pashtuns are very organised and disciplined and loving people.
Revealing his Eid plans, Shah says, “On the second day of Eid, we have planned to go to Fujairah for a get-together. We are also planning to organise a music programme in which our brothers will perform the famous tribal local dance known as Attan, which will double our Eid joys.”
Another tribesman, Bahadar Khan, who has been working for the last 23 years in Dubai, praises the wise leadership of the UAE for accepting the presence of over 200 nationalities.
“We never forget the love of great Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May Allah rest his soul in peace) for Pakistanis and especially for tribal Pashtuns. He was not just the leader of the UAE, but also the whole Muslim world,” says Khan.
“We are devoted Pashtuns and we will work for the betterment and prosperity of the UAE till our death,” an emotional Khan adds.
Another tribesman, Shahid Rehman, working as a driver in Dubai, says the UAE was the best place for any celebration. Being a Muslim country, Eid Al Adha celebrations compounded the joy of expats.
“I found the UAE to be the best place on Earth. Tribal people organise get-togethers and musical parties during Eid, which not only entertain the community members but locals and other nationals too,” Rehman remarks.
He added, “We have been planning to go to Al Alin (Jabel Hafeet) to celebrate our Eid holidays. A majority of our Pashtun brothers are living in Al Ain, and some of my friends are also working there.
“We will sacrifice a sheep there and enjoy a barbecue at the Al Ain Zoo park.”
Noor Rehman says that the UAE is one of the most peaceful and beautiful countries in the world. He states that he is socially active and always keeps contact with his tribal brothers and relatives. He also likes travelling and reveals that to mark the day he is planning to go on a desert safari with his Pathan friends.
Asmat Khail, also from Kurram Agency, hails the unity of the Pashtun community in the UAE.
“Eid is a gift of joy from Allah. It brings happiness in the life of Muslims. While we enjoy Eid, we should not ignore those brothers who are in trouble in our country or elsewhere,” expresses Khail.
gulftoday.ae | Pashtuns distribute sweets and goodwill
* I find some of the content here a bit flowering and excessive e.g. how the UAE leader is the leader of the Muslim world etc, but nevertheless a good article, contrary to the other propaganda out there seeking to potray Pashtuns or "Pathans" as terrorists, inherently violent and backwards.
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