As I have already stated in my previous article, Eid 2022 was the best Eid of my life. After getting 3 hours of sleep after going to Chand Raat, I woke up at around 6:30 in the morning and I got ready to go to Eid prayers. Eid prayers are special because you get to thank Allah for getting you through Ramadan, you gain blessings by saying the Takbeer and you get to be with the Ummah starting Eid together. I went to Valentines Park for Eid this year for the first time, where Mufti Menk holds the Eid Salah.

What is Valentines Park?

Valentines Park is a park that is south of Gants Hill and is the largest green space in the London borough of Redbridge.

What are Eid Prayers?

For those who don’t know, Eid Salah celebrates and commemorates the end of Ramadan on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. They are usually two rakats of Eid prayer and involve saying a lot of Takbeer to thank Allah and gain blessings. They can be done at home or outside, and this year, I really wanted to do it outside with my Ummah.

What did I like about doing Eid prayers in Valentines Park?

• Valentine Park is a beautiful park, with a pond, ducks, trees with flowers and of course, a large green space. It really reminded me of the beautiful world that Allah has put me in.
• I got to listen to and be part of the prayers held by the world-renowned Mufti Menk, an eloquent Muslim scholar who has inspired many Muslims. 
• The talk this year was about the 5 pillars of Islam, which was a simple topic, yet I remember feeling the deep sense of peace in my heart while listening as well as guilt for any mistakes/sins I have commited in the past.
• Praying together as an Ummah with the breeze rushing made me feel like Allah was blessing us, and with the soft sunlight pouring on us, it was even better.
• I accomplished something good right from the start of the day Alhamdulillah and I had the whole rest of the day to enjoy Eid.
• I then went to the funfair for a little while, where I saw my Chemistry teacher, got to see Mufti Menk and walked around with my sister to see the rides and food for a little while.

What did I dislike about doing Eid prayers in Valentines Park?

• I really liked how different Muslims from different backgrounds came together on this day. There were hundreds of people, the old and the young, men, women and children, and the sick and healthy. There were Hijabis and non-Hijabis. As a non-Hijabi, I felt slightly scared and guilty of taking off my Hijab after the prayer but I realised that we are all ion our own journey of Islam, and we should not judge others, instead we should focus on ourselves.
• There were men and women both exiting the park, and I think they should have separated the male and female exits.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, yes and yes! I would highly recommend going to this park just for fun and also when Eid Salah happens, which normally happens every year! Even if you are non-Muslim, you are welcome to come and watch the Eid Salah and witness the peace that we Muslims feel while praying!

This was my short review or diary entry about doing Eid prayers in Valentines Park in 2022. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Without a doubt, this year’s Eid was the best Eid of my life. I managed to go to so many new places Alhamdulillah and I felt so blessed and happy to be able to celebrate this auspicious time with my family. I went to Chand Raat after Maghrib time with my sister. This was an unplanned surprise. 

What is Chand Raat?

Chand Raat is known as the ‘the night of the moon’ and is the evening where the first crescent moon is observed. I believe it happens in different locations, specifically in South Asian communities. My sister and I went to the Green Street location.

What did I like about Chand Raat?

• My sister and I left the house at around 9-10pm at night and it took us around 1 hour to get to Green Street. We reached at around 11pm and we stayed there up till 2am. We arrived home at around 3am.
• Chand Raat is essentially where many Muslims, specifically South Asians, get together and they celebrate by talking to each other, exploring stalls and shops and even setting fireworks.
• My sister and I walked across the roads of Green Street and we liked how many small businesses set up and people were using their skills to earn money e.g. henna artists were doing henna in many locations.
• I felt this sense of unity and it felt safe as many Muslims from different walks of life were coming together even in the darkness of the night to celebrate Eid.
• We also got to buy milkshakes and cake and eat food. 
• There was a specific area that my sister enjoyed watching where there were some people dancing, which was quite funny!

What didn’t I like about Chand Raat?

• Ensure you know how you will get home as many buses were on diversion and some trains were closed by that time. Try not to take any unsafe/empty routes home.
• It is a lot of walking so make sure you are comfortable doing so!
• If you decide to get henna done, it might get stained when walking, which is why my sister and I decided not to get our henna done here. 
• You will probably end up spending at least an hour here if you want to see everything so be prepared to get less sleep! When my sister and I arrived home, we slept at 3am and woke up at around 6:30am again, so we only got around 3.5 hours of sleep. But, it was a good experience for once in a rare occasion, so it was fine!

Would I recommend it?

I would recommend going to Chand Raat at least once if you live in London. The best thing about this is the unity and trying to bring a lot of people with you – it is safe and fun!

This was my short review or diary entry about Chand Raat Green Street 2022. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know