This article has been updated to wish all Muslims a very happy Eid on Saturday 21 March 2026. Here's a few ways to wish your Muslim brothers and sisters.
Common Eid Greetings
Eid Mubarak: Means "Blessed Eid." This is the most popular greeting, suitable for anyone.
Eid Saeed: Means "Happy Eid."
Kul 'am wa antum bi-khair: A slightly more formal Arabic phrase, meaning "May you be well every year"
Part 2 of our series on getting to know the faiths in our communities.
“In antiquity Muslims, Christians, Jews and followers of various other faiths lived together and worshipped in their respective holy places in close proximity.
"When there was a need in the community, if someone was sick, hungry or needed a place to sleep, everyone stepped up, regardless of faith,” says Cravenby’s Imam Moulana Kariem.
“We need to get back to that way of thinking, working together to elevate our collective communities out of the terrible cycle of poverty, substance abuse and spiritual decay. There is no reason why Cravenby can’t be that future. The key is to keep the local economy local and to have the community invest in themselves, both economically and spiritually," says the Imam.
Imam Moulana Kariem and deputy Imam Khalid Yahya (Bilal)
The headline words, by the way, are from a song that made history in 1988 as the first song to win an Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe written and performed by a single artist, Carley Simon. It follows the theme of my introductory article about the faiths in our communities to foster understanding and unity.
The Imam greets me warmly and invites me to sit and observe the call to prayer and see the faithful gather in the mosque. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a holy place and the energy is palpable. Men begin to trickle in and in a short time more than sixty males of all ages are gathered in solemnity.
My visit to the mosque is a first for me and I am intrigued by the prayer rituals and the Arabic chanting.
After about 20 mins the men begin to leave and the Imam motions me to come over. We sit on the floor and begin our chat.
Moulana Kariem is a native of Lavender Hill and began his training as an Imam at age 13, which begins with learning to memorize the entire Quran. While his journey has seen him spend time in Egypt, he has also been an Imam in Mitchells Plain and other areas on the Cape Flats. Now at age 50, he says he is settled in Cravenby.
He tells me that the five tenets (or Pillars) of Islam are the core obligatory practices that form the foundation of Muslim life: Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (alms), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage). These pillars are essential acts of worship for all Muslims throughout their lives.
All Muslims throughout the world are required to follow the teachings of the Quran and abide by its commands strictly.
The Quran was revealed orally to Prophet Muhammad by God through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) in Classical Arabic, beginning in 610 CE at the Cave of Hira, when Muhammad was 40. The revelations occurred incrementally over approximately 23 years, with verses often addressing specific situations. According to tradition, Gabriel would review the Quran with Muhammad once every Ramadan, and twice in the year of his death, to ensure its accuracy. The Quran was officially fully revealed just before Muhammad's death in 632 CE.
Please conduct your own research online for more detail on any aspects of Islam that may be of personal interest to you.
Ramadan and the Iftar
We are currently in the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a 29–30-day period of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Iftar, or Iftaar (in our local dialect) is the evening meal served at sunset to break the daily fast.
On March 14, 2026, the Cravenby Community Civic Hall hosted a community Iftar. “This is also a part of our vision to bring our communities together in understanding and unity, and everyone is welcome,” says the Imam.
It’s my first time at an Iftar and I am honoured to be there. The place is abuzz with community spirit, and men, women and children from all walks of life and all the colours of our rainbow nation are in attendance.
Delicious snacks and the hunger-busting aromas of big pots of Akhni add to the convivial atmosphere which sees the community hall at full capacity, spilling out to the chairs in the parking lot as well. It’s a warm autumn night and I can’t help but see in my mind, the images in antiquity where Palestinians of all faiths celebrated each other in the spirit of tolerance and respect. The scene in front of me is not a million miles away from the countless times the Iftar was celebrated in the holy lands of the past.
I, for one, pray that the Imam’s vision for Cravenby comes to pass sooner than later.
