Eid ul-Fitr (The Festival of Ending the Fast) is a holiday that marks the end of the Ramadan, the month of fast. Eid is one of two major holidays in Islam. The other is the Eid ul-Adha which marks the end of the yearly Haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.
Eid ul-Fitr is very festive. People dress in their finest, decorate their homes with lights, visit each other's homes and have special dinners. Muslims from different countries have traditional ways of celebrating the Eid.
Prayers Begin the Eid
The prayer service began at 9:00am, Memorial Hall at Wesleyan University was transformed into a prayer hall for the occasion. The congregation removed their shoes at the door. Heavy butcher paper--a clean surface for prayer--was taped down with lines indicating the direction of Mecca. Muslims always pray facing the Kaabah, the Holy Shrine, in Mecca.
The believers stood in tightly packed rows, shoulder to shoulder, while Imam Shaykh Abdel Karim, the prayer leader of the Islamic Center of Bloomington-Normal, chanted the adhan (the ritual call to prayer) and led the congregation in prayer. The group performed Salat, the ritual gestures, postures and prostrations of prayer while saying the words in Arabic. They repeated "Allah' u 'Akbhar (God is Great) many times.
The Khatb
Imam Karim then delivered the khatb--the sermon. Karim was very concerned with promoting peace and unity. He called on the believers to stand firm if the church in Florida burns the Qur'an and not to be dismayed. He called on the congregation to denounce violence and fanaticism. He reassured the believers that the Qur'an cannot be destroyed as it is the eternal Word of God. He said the Qur'an should not just be on the bookshelves of believers, but in their hearts. Karim said there is great merit in reciting the Qur'an.
Hugs Mark Beginning of Festivities
After the Khatb, the worshipers greeted each other by saying "Eid Mubarak"--"Have a blessed Eid"--and by hugging chest-to-chest and cheek-to-cheek three times.
The Muslim men do not have the hangups American men have about men touching men. The Muslims embraced with spiritual warmth and passion. The room was full of hugs and smiles.
Group Shares Food
And then there was food: Melon pieces and grapes, naan (pocket bread) with hummus, a traditional spicy dish prepared from kidney and another dish from lamb, lots of sweet pastries. Sweet, hot tea with evaporated milk and strong coffee were the beverages. People lingered long to share good wishes and holiday greetings.
Rothwell Polk - Rothwell C. Polk, Jr. is a sixty-one-year-old living in Englewood, Colorado.. His interests include independent living, community and ...
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