A family reunion is a wonderful occasion where parents, children, and relatives gather in one place. Also, it reminds families of the support and love for each other. Truly, a family reunion can be positive, happy, harmonious, and improve family ties. This article will describe an Islamic perspective, benefits, and steps on how to plan for a family reunion.
Islamic Perspective
A family reunion is a wonderful strategy to strengthen the bond of family ties. Spending time together helps family members and relatives express love, forgiveness, and assistance.
It is narrated in a hadith from Abu Hurairah (May Allah be Pleased with Him) :
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing Be Upon Him) said,
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should unite the bond of kinship (i.e. keep good relation with his kith and kin); and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should talk what is good or keep quiet."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6138)
This hadith means that staying connected to family members and relatives is part of being a good Muslim.
Advantages of a Family Reunion:
- Reconnection: Helps family members reconnect with their relatives they haven’t seen and communicated in awhile. It gives an opportunity to tell news, updates, and life changes. Seeing familiar faces has a higher chance to have comfort and joy. It has a higher likelihood to bring family bonds stronger and bring everyone closer together.
- Embrace heritage: When relatives come together, they share stories, traditions, and customs. Children learn where their family comes from and feel proud of their ethnicity. People can enjoy traditional clothing, cuisines, and customs that reflect their culture. It is an effective approach to sustaining a family’s history and sharing it with children and teenagers. Elders may teach younger family members about their ancestry. These moments embrace the uniqueness of the family. It helps people stay connected to their roots.
- Network: Offers an opportunity to network with relatives who have similar jobs and talents. For example, a cousin and an aunt who both enjoy knitting and crocheting discovered their shared passion at a family reunion. They decided to start a small business together, selling handmade items online. This teamwork brought them closer and turned a hobby into a source of income after the reunion.
How to Plan a Family Reunion:
- Discuss with family members and relatives: Select a few family members or relatives to collaborate on a family reunion. Assign different positions such as location, budgeting, food, and invitations. Also, talk to them on the days that they will be available. It will help to know the number of people that are able to attend the family reunion.
- Select a date: Choose and ensure that most of them are available on the assigned day. Also, acknowledge that some people are available for a day, an entire week, or weekend. Pick the best time and duration that majority of the family members can attend the occasion.
- Pick the suitable location: Pick a place that is safe and simple to find for most people to commute by car, bus, or taxi. Ensure there is sufficient space for everyone to sit, eat, and enjoy activities. Some examples are a local park, backyard, community centre, or banquet hall. An excellent location helps everyone feel calm and enjoy the event together.
- Establish a budget: Discuss with the planning team members and choose the amount that each family member can give. Ensure the budget is reasonable for everyone. Use a spreadsheet to record all of the expenses such as place, food, decorations, and activities. A clear plan assists the planning team members to avoid stress and enjoy the occasion.
- Plan food: Discuss with the venue about the choices prior the family members begin planning their meal plan. For instance, the family members need to know if there is a kitchen, microwave, or plug-in for food warmers at the location. Also, it is recommended to modify the food menu to fit the season. For example, if the reunion will be in the summertime, include summer themed foods such as ice cream and lemonade. Moreover, it is advised to have food that reflects on cultural cuisines such as biyani, kabob, dolma, pizza, samosas, gulab jamun, and baklava. In addition, if there is a pot-luck, family members can have a sign-up sheet for entree, appetizer, dinner, desserts or drinks. It will ensure that there will be a variety of different foods and get family members involved in the potluck.
- Send invitations: Send invitations as soon as possible when the venue is booked. There are several methods such as mail, email, text messages, or making a social media page. For instance, ensure to have a date, time, location, and any additional details mentioned on the invitation. It is suggested for family members and relatives to RSVP so that the planning team members know a rough estimate on the number of people planning to attend the event. Ensure to send a reminder invitation one week or a couple of days in advance. It will remind them on the day of the family reunion.
- Take photos and videos: Request a family member or relative to take photos and videos during the event. It is suggested to take photos of groups, people talking or laughing, food tables, and little children playing games amongst themselves. After the event, send photos and videos via text messages or social media websites. Everyone can view and keep the memories on their phone or computers. It will help them keep the family bond strong long after the reunion ends.
A family reunion brings people closer and creates lasting memories. Life is full of hardships, however having a supportive family makes the journey simpler. Families grow stronger when they spend time together. By staying connected, they find love, support, and belonging. Contacting family members and relatives for a family reunion may be the initial step to building a happier future for everyone.
- https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6138
- https://www.uccr.org/news/family-reunion-benefits
- https://koa.com/blog/family-reunion-planning-guide/
Author bio: Amanda Hasan is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Arts) and Humber College (Law Clerk). She is the author of Joyless, an Amazon novella that tells the story of a lonely teenage girl working at an amusement park. More recently, Amanda copyedited several children's stories for Compass Books. She also worked with Muslim Network TV writing scripts, securing guest speakers, and preparing for interviews. Amanda is currently residing in the Greater Toronto Area with her family.
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