"Here! That’s for you,” I smiled at my sister as I handed her a gift box containing bangles, henna, shimmers and artificial jewellery.

“Thank you so much bhai! It is such a nice surprise and Eid gift. You definitely made my day and made this Eid a truly joyous occasion,” she was ecstatic while eagerly inspecting the gift.

I had been saving money for new shoes for Eid, but thought of surprising my sis with the money I had saved. The delight in her eyes and the joy she felt made up for the sacrifice. I felt happy in the truest sense of the word.

joy she felt made up for the sacrifice. I felt happy in the truest sense of the word.

It’s a little strange that the true joy of something is in sharing with others. And come Eid, it becomes even more significant as all through Ramazan we make sacrifices in the form of fasting. The sacrifices we make while fasting, in the form of abstaining from things that we do every day like eating and drinking, is loved by God and the reward we will get in return is far more than that of any other form of worship. Thus the spirit of sacrifice and sharing Eid is not only logical, but also rewarding in terms of the joy it brings.

I remember when I was a kid, I overheard my father saying to my mother, “The real celebration and joy of Eid is for kids. Let us leave no stone unturned in making this occasion truly joyous for them.”

And for that both my parents sacrificed. They brought me and my siblings all the things we wanted for Eid while they did no Eid shopping for themselves or just bought inexpensive items.

When I was a kid I did not understand their spirit of sacrifice, but I understand it now. The reason behind their sacrifice was love.

It was my parents’ love for their children that made them provide everything their children wished for at the expense of what they could have bought for themselves. And that love, that sacrifice, brought true joy to them. It is with this spirit of love that I bring Eid gifts for my siblings and parents; and it brings the truest joy to me.

Over time I have learnt to extend this concept of giving/sharing/sacrifice to the poor around us. First with the counsel of my parents and then when I was sure of my own actions, I started giving away old items of use to the servants in the house and the poor people around me, on Eids. And ever since, whether by coincidence or by good karma, my Eids have always been truly enjoyable. Whatever the cause, one thing is for sure — the old saying “By sharing, you divide your sorrows and multiply your joys,” does apply in this case.

On Eid last year, a bunch of senior students in my school, including myself, raised money for an orphanage with the help of the school authorities. We bought clothing items, shoes, toys and other gifts for the orphans. Distributing all those items to the children at the orphanage was an experience beyond words. They were so ecstatic to receive all those gifts. Just seeing their joyous expression was evident of the fact that it was money well spent. We spent some time with them, made friends and carried home a lot of precious memories to cherish for a lifetime.

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more,” with experience, I can vouch for these words of American bestseller inspirational writer H. Jackson Brown, Jr. It is not just about giving. Any selfless act gives inner peace. And what’s more, this fact is now scientifically proven.

“Scientists have discovered that the small, brave act of cooperating with another person, of choosing trust over cynicism, generosity over selfishness, makes the brain light up with quiet joy,” says Natalie Angier, Pulitzer prize winning journalist and non-fiction writer.

So this Eid, talk to your parents about sharing your Eid joys with others. They may be your family members you don’t meet often, or others who do not have the means to buy new things for Eid. You can give all these people Eid gifts in form of new or used stuff or just spend some joyous time with them. Watch as they smile and joy fills their heart. That’s what Eid truly is!

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 2nd, 2016