Mujeeb Osman
CHICAGO: The celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr on June 15 marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of a weekend of Eid celebration for American Muslims. Of the three million Muslims in the United States, over 300,000 live in the Greater Chicago area
Ramadan and Eid offer a perfect opportunity for community outreach. Carrying on the tradition of feeding each other and giving charity during the holy month, many mosques and Islamic centers provide Iftar and dinner options, often by donation from local Muslims. Well-attended centers like Jamia Masjid (Devon Ave, Chicago), Muslim Community Center (Elston Ave, Chicago), the Downtown Islamic Center (Chicago), Sharia Board (Western Ave, Chicago), Muslim Education Center (Morton Grove), Masjid al-Huda (Schaumburg), ICCG (Northbrook), ISNS (Rolling Meadows), Turkish American Society (Mt. Prospect), Islamic Foundation (Villa Park), and Dar-us-Salam (Lombard) host multiple charitable events throughout Ramadan. Clothing and food drives are just two of the outreach efforts that Chicago-area Muslims collaborate on to honor the spirit of Ramadan.
In addition to almsgiving, many gather for the optional Taraweeh prayer specific to Ramadan, foregoing rest after a long day of fasting for a night spent in prayer. In the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs alone, there were around 200 locations where Taraweeh was prayed. As mosques overflowed with supplicants, many turned to universities and even local people’s homes for Taraweeh accommodations. Using the home for Taraweeh allowed young Hafiz to revise their memorization of the Quran and helped neighbors strengthen their ties.
Ramadan also serves as an ideal time to spread awareness of Islam to the American public. Non-Muslims learn about fasting through their friends and coworkers and may be curious to know more. With open-mosque programs and interfaith discussions, American Muslims educate their peers regarding their faith in a politically-charged time.
Politicians also look to build ties with the Muslim community by joining in on the Ramadan and Eid observances. Following a decades-old tradition, the White House held its Iftar dinner on June 6, attended by foreign diplomats from Muslim-majority countries. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, too, hosted an Iftar dinner on May 30. Others, such as Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Alderman Debra Silverstein, Senator Ira Silverstein, Alderman Joe Moore, and the City of Chicago police attended Islamic center events.
The Eid celebrations that follow Ramadan prove the strong bond of Chicago area Muslims. Eid prayer at Holiday Inn in Skokie, for example, has a tremendous turnout each year, which comes free of cost to the Muslim community thanks to the gracious owners. The joy carries over throughout the summer with multiple Eid fests, the most popular being the ICNA Eid Fest in Villa Park, which continues to increase in attendance.
