Eidul Azha 2026 is just a few days away, and it has brought back memories of the same Eid last year, an experience I can never forget. That Eid taught me an important lesson about kindness, gratitude and helping others.

Today, I want to share my experience so that others may also learn the joy of doing good and making someone feel valued.

Eidul Azha teaches us the values of sacrifice, sharing, caring and helping those in need. Those who perform the sacrifice are encouraged to distribute the meat among family, friends and the less fortunate.

So last year, on Eidul Azha, after we were done with sacrificing our animal and distributing the meat, I casually walked to the balcony of our apartment and looked outside. I noticed a poor man outside. People in the area were distributing meat and he stood patiently in a queue, but before his turn came, the meat had finished.

He rushed to another spot, but once again, he received nothing. I could see the distress, sadness and despair on his face. The man did not fight or push others aside to get ahead; he simply waited peacefully for his turn. With a defeated expression, I saw him walk towards a small, dilapidated hut at a distance.

I felt a deep respect for this man because he did not fight, push or snatch. He must have wanted his family to eat meat, but he didn’t let his desperation make him misbehave with anyone.

I rushed inside and told my mum about him. My dad was also there and seeing my desperation to help the man, my dad immediately got up.

“Let’s go. It’s Eid, and no one should go home empty-handed,” he said.

We took a good portion of meat along with some sweetmeats and went to the small hut. As we stopped near the house, my father called out, “As-salamu alaykum,” since there was no door to knock on, just a piece of cloth covering the doorway.

A little girl came out to check. I handed the meat and sweets to her, telling her that we had just done our sacrifice and these things were for her family. She thanked me and smiled while going back inside, and that smile felt like a priceless gift to me.

Then the man I had seen came out. He seemed overwhelmed with gratitude, and thanked us profoundly. I had never felt so satisfied before as I did then, knowing that I had done something good. This small act made my Eid unforgettable.

Afterwards, I realised that helping someone in need is one of the best things a person can do, as it brings satisfaction, happiness and a deep sense of joy. Instead of only enjoying picnics or doing irrelevant activities, bringing smiles to needy people is always a wonderful thing to do.

I learnt a valuable lesson that day: Eid is not just about celebrating with our loved ones, but also about sharing our blessings with those who have less. It is about being human and being a good Muslim. I know that I will never forget this Eid and the joy it brought to me, as well as to the poor man and his family.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 23rd, 2026