So, you and your partner are looking forward to the forthcoming Eid celebration, however, you seem a little confused because you’re both of different religions.
Maybe it’s your first time as a couple observing your traditions and you’re not sure how to go about it.
First, interfaith relationships are quite common these days and many successful ones can encourage you.
Moreover, observing religious occasions is one of the ways to carry each other along.
So, if you lack ideas on how to go about this Eid celebration as a couple, you don’t have to worry.
In this guide post, I’ll be taking you through 11 tips for navigating interfaith relationships during Eid.
11 Tips for Navigating Interfaith Relationships During Eid
While it’s not always easy with people from different backgrounds and beliefs having a relationship, observing certain things can help.
If you’re looking forward to celebrating Eid as a couple, carrying each other along, discussing how the celebration will be, and finding a balance can help.
Also, planning neutral activities and asking questions would go a long way.
In addition, don’t forget to get involved if you’re the one who isn’t a Muslim, and as the Muslim partner, don’t pressure your partner.
Below are 11 tips to guide you:
- Carry each other along
- Talk about how the celebration will be
- Get involved
- Don’t pressure your partner
- Plan neutral activities
- Be ready for compromise
- Respect each other’s opinion
- Ask questions where you lack understanding
- Find a balance
- Remember shared values
- Remain open-minded
Carry Each Other Along
One of the ways to thrive as a couple, group, or people who have to work together is by carrying each other along.
Just like a team must cooperate to achieve a goal, if you want to have a successful relationship, whether you’re of the same religious background or not, carrying each other along is crucial.
In this case, a successful Eid celebration is the goal you both want to achieve. And as a couple with different religious beliefs, you both must carry each other along for it to work.
By carrying each other along, it means you both need to be in the know about what’s going on and what is to take place.
As the Muslim partner, you should inform your partner of how things are done. Remember, they probably haven’t been involved in such a celebration.
So, start early to tell them what the Eid celebration is about.
Talk About How the Celebration Will be
Another thing you should do as a couple with a different religious background this Eid is to talk about how the celebration will be.
How do you intend to celebrate it? What activities do you intend to carry out? Are you receiving visitors? What food will you be cooking?
Although Eid has its special observances, including prayers and feasting, how families and individuals choose to celebrate is left to them.
As a couple, you can decide to go on vacation with your children if you have children.
Also, there are romantic and fun activities you can enjoy together as a couple if you won’t be receiving visitors or visiting anyone.
Being of a different religion shouldn’t stop you as the Muslim partner from having this discussion with your partner.
So, you should carry your partner along in this way, even the very minute details should be discussed.
Get Involved
Another tip for navigating through interfaith relationships during Eid is getting involved. This one is meant for the non-muslim partner.
As the non-muslim partner, nothing stops you from getting involved in what’s going on. It won’t make you any less or affect your belief.
You don’t have to partake in the prayers or get involved in the rites and rituals, but ordinary activities, like helping to plan the celebration, and attending to visitors are what you can involve yourself with.
Moreover, when you choose to go ahead with having a relationship with your Muslim partner, these are some of the things you signed up for.
Distancing yourself from your partner’s activities because it’s not part of your traditions won’t help. If you know you can’t get involved in these little things, then you shouldn’t start a relationship.
But, since you’re together as an interfaith couple, you should be able to show support to your partner by getting involved in celebrations and traditions.
In addition, if your partner doesn’t seem to be carrying you along, probably because they feel they don’t want to bother you, you could talk to them about it and ask them where you can come in. Show them you’re interested
Doing things together in this manner is what helps strengthen your relationship.
Moreover, you’d appreciate it if your partner showed interest during your celebration.
Don’t Pressure Your Partner
Another thing to have at the back of your mind as an interfaith couple looking to celebrate Eid together is never to apply pressure on your partner.
As a Muslim partner, you shouldn’t in any way make your partner feel pressured when planning the feast.
If it’s your first time celebrating as a couple, you should ensure you follow up with your partner gradually.
Tell them how things are done and where you feel they can get involved. Do not in any way make them feel you’re ordering them.
Rather phrase it as a request and ensure they’re happy doing it. In addition, don’t request for something you know they won’t be comfortable with.
For instance, asking them to join in the prayers or the rituals. Even phrasing this as a request is emotionally pressuring them.
They should willingly want to be involved without any form of emotional manipulation.
Furthermore, as a non-muslim partner, you shouldn’t act like you’re doing your partner a favor by celebrating Eid with them.
Celebrating with them is necessary as a couple unless you too had discussed from the beginning not to be involved in each other’s traditions.
Plan Neutral Activities
Another beautiful way you can get through celebrating Eid together as an interfaith couple is to plan neutral activities.
While you observe the normal Eid rituals like prayers and feasting, you can plan other neutral activities to include the non-muslim partner.
Fun activities like going on rides, visiting the museum, and going for dinner, are neutral activities both of you’ll enjoy.
These are things you can fix for the evening or the next day. So, after the fast and prayer, and other Islamic activities done during Eid, you can engage in these other activities later.
Moreover, these are great ways to bond and have a good time.
Be Ready for Compromise
Compromise is necessary for humans to coexist in this world.
Everyone is built differently with their wants and needs, and there are times when these needs can’t be met at the same time or when two things can’t be achieved simultaneously. That is where compromise comes in.
As two people looking to start a relationship, understanding that sacrifices and compromises would’ve to be made makes things easier.
Whether you’re from the same religious background or not, as long as you’re two humans looking to build something together, compromise can’t be avoided.
How much more if you share different faiths and beliefs? As an interfaith couple looking to celebrate your traditions together including Eid, compromises would’ve to be made.
For instance, as the non-muslim partner, if you happen to have already planned something on the day of Eid, the compromise would be canceling to join your partner to celebrate if it’s possible.
That’s if your job or something important won’t be at stake.
Also, as the Muslim partner, if your partner doesn’t eat a particular meal, you can choose to cook the ones they can eat rather than exempt them.
Respect Each Other’s Opinion
Another thing you should have at the back of your mind to help you navigate through interfaith differences in relationships is respecting each other’s opinions.
First, respect is crucial for relating with your fellow humans at work or any gathering. If there isn’t respect in the workplace, a lot of things will go wrong.
In marriages, if there’s no respect, the home won’t be peaceful. So, as partners with different backgrounds, you know you’ll have different beliefs and opinions about certain things.
Therefore, when observing Eid with your partner, you owe each other respect.
Being the Muslim partner doesn’t give you the authority to monopolize every discussion. Of course, you’re the one with the knowledge, but your partner’s suggestions are also important.
So, you should discuss like partners and not as an authoritarian.
In addition, as the non-muslim partner, you should present your opinion with respect and be humble enough to learn from your partner.
Ask Questions Where You Lack Understanding
Another important thing you shouldn’t neglect as an interfaith couple is asking questions where you lack understanding.
When planning Eid, you as the non-muslim partner should show interest by asking questions.
If your partner says things should be done this way, ask them why if you don’t understand.
For instance, if your partner says “We must kill a ram,” ask them why it’s necessary to kill a ram and not a turkey.
Asking questions doesn’t show attack or that you’re questioning their beliefs, but rather it shows interest and that you take your relationship seriously.
Moreover, it helps with understanding their religion more and becoming more open-minded.
Find a Balance
As an interfaith couple, finding a balance can help with managing your different beliefs.
Even couples that share the same religion have their opinions about things and will also need to find a balance.
So, during Eid, it’s necessary to find a balance as partners in interfaith relationships.
Yes, Muslims are the ones that celebrate Eid, just like Christians celebrate Christmas, but that doesn’t mean that these religions forbid their people from celebrating with others who don’t share their faith
Therefore, while you plan an Eid celebration with your partner, ask these questions; where’s the common ground? How can your partner be involved and not feel left out?
Finding a balance is what helps promote mutual respect and understanding.
Remember Shared Values
Even as people with different backgrounds, there are common values and ethics among us.
Most religions preach humanity first, love, and justice. No one should be practicing any religion that preaches against humanity.
So, as partners in interfaith relationships, remembering and practicing your shared values will help foster unity among you.
During Eid, especially Eid al-Fitr, fasting prayer, and almsgiving are expected from every Muslim, which is the same thing Christians preach, especially during the Lent season.
What about Judaism, Hinduism, and the rest? There are definitely shared values amongst these religions. Having these at the back of your mind can help you both navigate through the different dynamics of your faith.
Remain Open-minded
Remaining open-minded is crucial in sustaining a relationship, especially one with partners of different religions.
When planning Eid with your partner, as the non-muslim, you owe it to your partner to remain open-minded.
Open-mindedness will help you see their beliefs and opinions logically and not sentimentally.
Remember being open-minded doesn’t mean you’ll be converting, but it does mean you’ll be willing to celebrate Eid with them and even consider visiting their place of worship.
Moreover, it shows your interest and readiness to learn more about them and their fate.
Summarily
We’re no longer in those days when interfaith relationships and marriages were considered taboo.
We’re now in a time when people have evolved and have chosen to look beyond certain beliefs to see a person.
But, that’s not to say it’s easy with interfaith relationships. However, it doesn’t eliminate the fact that it’s possible to achieve a successful interfaith relationship.
This Eid, these tips I’ve discussed in this article are some of the things that can help you navigate through your different dynamics as couples with different religious backgrounds.
They’re also valuable outside the Eid seasons.
