Amira's Picture Day
by Reem Faruqi
illustrated by Fahmida Azim
illustrated by Fahmida Azim
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Amira's Picture Day.
00:07By Reem Farooqi.
00:09Illustrated by Fahmida Azim.
00:11Amira peered through the window, but saw only the black unblinking sky.
00:16Do you see the moon, whispered Mom.
00:20Zeed scanned the sky and shouted.
00:23I think I see it.
00:25I see it too.
00:27Amira said.
00:29Mom drew them in for a hug.
00:31That means it's AID tomorrow.
00:34Amira felt warm and tingly inside.
00:37She couldn't keep still even when she tried.
00:41She rushed to bring her mom the mendi cone.
00:44In a few minutes, her hands were decorated with wet green swirls and designs.
00:51Her mom even doodled her favorite animal, a dolphin in the middle of one hand with a
00:55mermaid on the other.
00:57Amira held her hands out carefully to make sure they dried.
01:02She hoped that the next morning her mendi designs would be a deep chocolate brown.
01:08Tomorrow we get to skip school, yelled Zeed.
01:12Amira cheered.
01:14Okay you two.
01:15Let's use your energy to make some goodie bags said Mom.
01:20Amira joined her little brother in counting lollipops for the children at the masjid.
01:25A colorful flyer on the fridge caught her eye.
01:29Tomorrow was picture day.
01:32Amira's cheeks felt hot.
01:34Her insides felt cold.
01:37She had already chosen her pink striped dress.
01:41Miss Bailey had told them that tomorrow they would be taking a group photo of the entire
01:452B class.
01:48Mom.
01:49Tomorrow is picture day at school, wailed Amira.
01:53Don't worry Amira.
01:55We'll take plenty of pictures of you at the masjid in your new aid clothes said her mom
02:00ironing Amira's shalwa kameez.
02:03Amira knew it wouldn't be the same.
02:06She loved aid and the party at the masjid, but she didn't want to be left out of her
02:11class picture.
02:13How would her classmates remember her if she wasn't there?
02:17Amira brushed her thoughts away as she tried to fall asleep that night.
02:22The next morning Mom woke her.
02:25Aid mubarak Amira.
02:27Amira traced the mendi on her hands dreamily.
02:31Her mermaid and dolphin were a deep chocolate brown.
02:35Amira smiled as she got out of bed thinking of all the aid treats she would get today.
02:41Her new aid shalwa kameez hung nearby.
02:44Suddenly.
02:46She spotted the pink striped picture day dress.
02:50The more Amira thought of picture day the longer she took to get dressed.
02:55When Amira was finally ready.
02:57She looked in the mirror.
03:00Tiny mirrors on her blue shalwa kameez shone happily in the sunlight.
03:05As she was leaving the room, Amira took one last look longingly at her pink striped dress.
03:11Amira, we saw the moon.
03:14It's aid today.
03:15Now, let's go.
03:18Answered Baba.
03:20Seeing the masjid.
03:22Amira's sadness floated away.
03:24Her mouth popped open.
03:27She could hardly recognize it.
03:30Streamers with stars hung on the wall and colorful balloons decorated the ceiling.
03:36Amira swung her basket of goodie bags proudly.
03:39She could hardly focus on the melodious aid player.
03:43She smelled the fresh scent of just baked cookies.
03:47She smiled to herself as she prayed.
03:51Right after the aid prayer, she rushed to her basket and handed out the goodie bags
03:56to her friends at the masjid.
03:58Lots of mom's friends gave Amira hugs.
04:02She made sure to hug them back and wish them aid Mubarak when she remembered.
04:07It was only when her aunt Farah Kayla told Amira to smile big for a photo that she remembered
04:13picture day.
04:15Amira smiled small.
04:17After the exciting aid celebration at the masjid.
04:21Amira looked around.
04:23A few balloons floated down to the floor.
04:27She felt like one of those balloons.
04:30If only she had not missed picture day.
04:33On the way home, Amira closed her eyes tightly to hold back tears.
04:38Suddenly, Amira had an idea.
04:42Taking her breath, she began to count her leftover goodie bags quickly.
04:47There were just enough for her class.
04:50Mom, Baba can we stop by my class and deliver the extra goodie bags to them?
04:56Her parents' faces softened while they exchanged a look.
05:01Sure Amira answered her mom.
05:03Do you think I might make it for picture day, she asked.
05:07I'm not sure mom explained.
05:11According to the flyer 2B's photos are in the afternoon, so let's hope you're on time.
05:18As Baba and Zeed waited in the car.
05:21Amira looked down at her shalwa kameez.
05:24She wasn't wearing her pink striped dress for picture day, but she was here at school.
05:31Feeling a little funny, she walked stiffly inside.
05:35Each leg felt like a wobbly tower of blocks.
05:38In classroom 2B, the class was busy getting in line.
05:43Had Amira missed picture day?
05:46Just in time Amira, said Miss Bailey.
05:49I love your outfit.
05:51Amira's mom explained to Miss Bailey that today was Eid and that the family had been
05:56to the masjid to celebrate this special day for Muslims.
06:00As her teacher and mom chatted, Amira handed the basket of goodie bags shyly to her teacher.
06:07I like your hands, said Raphael.
06:11Your clothes are so colorful, added Wai.
06:14You look like a princess, gasped Reagan.
06:18That's what my name means giggled Amira as she skipped into the line.
06:23What a perfect end to Eid.
06:26As the class stood together in the gym.
06:29The photographer told them to smile.
06:32Amira did not need to be told to smile.
06:35She was already smiling.
06:38Author note.
06:40In countries such as the United States where the majority of people are not Muslim, many
06:45Muslim children miss school on Eid.
06:48As a child, it can be fun to skip school, but what happens when Eid falls on an important
06:54day such as picture day?
06:57Muslims use the lunar calendar so they do not know the exact date for Eid until they
07:01spot the new moon's crescent.
07:05This can sometimes be tricky especially when explaining to non-Muslim teachers classmates
07:10co-workers and others.
07:12On Eid, the Muslim community comes together for a special Eid prayer at the masjid and
07:18to wish each other Eid Mubarak.
07:21Many people wear their finest clothes and are full of excitement.
07:26Children will enjoy delicious treats and receive gifts.
07:30The rest of the Eid day is usually spent having fun by visiting friends and family.
07:36Eid prayers occur in congregation in the early morning, so Muslims are usually free to socialize
07:42in the afternoons or catch a good nap or in Amira's attention make it to school for picture
07:47day.
07:48Eid Mubarak.
07:51More about Eid.
07:53Muslims celebrate Eid two times a year.
07:56The first Eid of the year is known as Eid al-Fitr.
07:59It occurs at the end of the month of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from before
08:05sunrise to sunset.
08:07The second Eid of the year is called Eid al-Adha.
08:11It celebrates the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage.
08:15Although only pilgrims in Makkah participate in Hajj, Muslims around the world join them
08:21in celebrating Eid al-Adha.
08:22Glossary.
08:23Baba, this means father or dad in Arabic, Urdu and other languages.
08:30Eid Mubarak, have a blessed Eid.
08:34Shalwa Kameez, these are traditional clothes worn in Central Asia including Pakistan and
08:39India.
08:41The Kameez is a long flowy shirt.
08:44A shalwa is a pair of loose trousers that are wide at the top and skinny at the ankle.
08:50Men and women both wear shalwa and kameezs, but each style is different.
08:55Mendi, this is the Urdu, Pakistani language, word for a fragrant paste made from a plant
09:02that is usually applied through a cone-shaped tube.
09:06It is used to decorate girls' and women's hands on special occasions such as Eid and
09:12weddings.
09:13The color stays on for a few days until it fades.
09:17In Arabic, Mendi is called Henna.
09:20Masjid, this is a mosque or a place of worship for Muslims.
09:26For my three brothers who always make Eid special Hamza Talha and Osman.
09:31RF.
09:33For my sisters, Eid Mubarak.
09:36FA.
09:37The End.