Something inconceivable happened to us this Ramadan. What started out as a peaceful month of worship ended as a turbulent month of instability and uncertainty. My country, a country whose main purpose was centered upon peace, prosperity and love towards us and others was being brutally attacked by Iran in a war we neither started nor participated in. Our calm nights became a center stage for loud missiles and drones. Our days became a series of siren alerts on our phones and on our streets. Roads became blocked and security guarded every area and scanned every vehicle and pedestrian. The explosions in the air shook our windows and our spirits. Sounds so unfamiliar to us were becoming customary as through the nights and days we hear missiles and drones being immaculately intercepted. Suddenly nothing else seemed as important as the safety of our country and our leaders. For what could be more important than protecting our very home? Our country handled the attacks with utmost efficiency all the while assuring the nation that it will keep us safe. This effective and comforting nature of handling the war with grace and commitment whilst ensuring the wellbeing of it’s people was nothing new to the UAE. The UAE is a pioneer in dealing with crisis with the absolute care and comfort of its people coming first. We have complete trust in our nation and our government and we will not be defeated. We will once again rise while being reminded of the preciousness of this life and this country of ours. This is going to be a temporary set back, a tribulation in which we rise from it stronger and more determined than ever.

For now though it’s going to be a different kind of Eid. It’s going to be a time of solidarity and unity. The enemy might have instilled in us fear but it shall never shake our spirits. We will continue to pray for our country and we will never again take anything for granted. Quiet mornings, lazy routines, repetitive days now seem like privileges. So this Eid despite being different, we will cherish the time spent with family, we will hug each other a little longer and we shall play with children a little harder. We shall be more present and more faithful and grateful for the little things before the big things and we shall continue to pray for our country, our soldiers and our leaders. We shall continue to pray for our nation that lays awake at night guarding us so we could have this Eid and so we could cherish these little moments in this unpredictable thing called life.