America's Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Fitr

By Laura J. Brown
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- On December 16, Muslims across the United States celebrated the end of Ramadan, a holy month of prayer and fasting. Local media covered the day of feasting and gift-giving known as Eid al-Fitr, showing that the holiday's festivities are as diverse as those who observe it.

Some donned colorful African dress, while others painted their skin in intricate henna designs. For some, the traditional Eid meal featured stewed goat and rice, while for others it was egg rolls and other Asian delicacies. The sweets ranged from Egyptian cookies to a popular treat known as helwa.

The Seattle Times described how Muslims of various ethnicities gathered at the Washington State Convention Center to celebrate the day. Muslims in the state include those of Arab, South Asian, Cham (from Champa, a region in Cambodia and Vietnam), Somali, Indonesian, Egyptian, Moroccan and Bosnian descent, the Times said.

"We have Cham mosques, Pakistani mosques, Somali mosques," said Aziz Junejo, who helped organize the convention-center gathering. "But on this particular day, they all make it a point to come to this particular prayer and to be a part of this one big community."

Despite differences in ethnic backgrounds or national origins, Muslims across the nation spoke of an increased sense of solidarity with one another. Chris Aceto, president of the Islamic Society of Portland, Maine, told the Portland Press Herald that Muslims rely heavily on their strong faith and each other, especially during the tensions that followed the September 11 attacks.

"In tough times, a person looks for what he can fall back on," Aceto said. "In Islam, it's faith in God and community."

In Los Angeles, a spokesman for the American Muslim Council said that although Sunday was a time to celebrate, it also was an opportunity to remember the September 11 terrorist attacks and the war in Afghanistan, the Los Angeles Times reported.

This year, the Eid celebration is "more important, more significant," Faiz Rehman told the Times. "We came to pray for the victims and to pray for the country."

An Associated Press article captured the sentiments of one Muslim in Florida as he celebrated Eid. "It's a very happy day with a very heavy heart," said Rafiq Mahdi, an imam from a Fort Lauderdale mosque. Mahdi asked worshippers to think of Muslims in areas such as Palestine and Afghanistan who might not be able to celebrate Eid.

The Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, overflowed with worshippers for Eid, the Associated Press reported. Those seeking comfort and reassurance at the mosque Sunday increased attendance by 20 percent compared to last year, with nearly 3,000 people attending three services that day, the news wire reported.

"We would have more joy on this Eid if the terrorist attacks of September 11 had never happened," Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi told the Associated Press.

In Rhode Island, Donna Alqassar told the Providence Journal that it was important for Muslims to gather, as they did, "to show the world we're God-fearing people and these people who claim to be Islamic aren't really practicing the faith."

On the September 11 terrorist attacks, Alqassar commented, "The only good thing that came out of this event is there's been more awareness about what Islam is, and what it is not."

President Bush marked the end of Ramadan by a White House ceremony December 17 with 20 Muslim children and their families from the Washington area. Thanking his guests for visiting during the special Eid celebration, Bush remarked, "It reminds us how much we all have in common, how similar boys and girls are, no matter what their religion may be. And your joy during this season enriches the life of our great country."

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)