JEDDAH: A single tweet posted by a man with special needs asking people to wish him a “happy Eid” drew a flood of responses on the first day of the Islamic holiday.
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid Al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and when festive greetings are exchanged. New clothes, sweets and toys for children are traditionally purchased to celebrate the holiday.
Twitter user Fares Al-Shammari message reached beyond the borders of Kuwait, as warm wishes started to pour in from thousands of people around the Arab world.
“Eid Mubarak. I’m Fares Al-Shammari with special needs,” Al-Shammari tweeted on June 25. “Would you wish me a happy Eid to share the joy with you. Thank you and I love you all.”
عيدكم مبارك أنا فارس الشمري من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة ممكن تقولون لي عيدك مبارك عشان اشاركم الفرحه وشكرا لكم احبكم كلكم
— فارس الشمري (@faresalshammary)
Prominent public figures joined the crowd in congratulating Al-Shammari and wishing him a joyful Eid.
Several commercial companies jumped on the bandwagon, and not only wished the young man a happy Eid, but also flooded him with special offers and gifts.
Gifts varied from free tickets
another free ticket on Flyadeal's first-ever flight
to shopping vouchers
to even the latest tech gadgets such as an iPhone 7.
Fares’ tweet received a remarkable reaction within a few hours — with more than 51,000 replies, 54,000 retweets and 25,000 likes.
A few hours later, Fares shared a short video clip of him verifying his account. “I’m Fares Al-Shammari and this is my account,” he said in the nine-second video.
احبكم فيديو اثبات اكاونتي
— فارس الشمري (@faresalshammary)
Fares also received an invitation to join a dinner party with a prominent Saudi actor and social activist, Fayez Al-Malki, who urged his 5.51 million followers to join him in wishing a pleasant Eid to his “friend.”
“Fares Al-Shammari, we are all your brothers and sister and we love you. Happy Eid. Girls and boys, let’s flood our friend Fares with the warmest wishes,” he wrote.
فارس الشمري كلنا اخوانك
ونحبك كل عام وانت بخير
يالله شباب وبنات هجوم على صديقنا فارس ونبارك له— فايز المالكي (@fayez_malki)
The Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has also expressed its readiness to accommodate Al-Shammari in one of its colorful entertainment activities featured in his region.
