American Muslims have worked to make `Eid Al-Adha in the United States their own unique celebration.(Photo: Onislam)
Houston, 12 Dzulhijjah 1435/6 October 2014 (MINA) – Whether it’s tailgating before a college football game, creating their own homemade decorations, or facing anti-Islam protestors on the way to prayers at their local mosques, American Muslims have worked to make `Eid Al-Adha in the United States their own unique celebration.
“Every urban area has big `Eid prayers,” Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Onislam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Monday.
For Muslim revert Morgan Shuman, this year’s `Eid prayers were followed up with a true American tradition: college football.
“In Auburn, Alabama, where I go to school there are morning prayers then a tailgate for the Auburn-Louisiana State University (football) game,” said Morgan Shuman.
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Shuman, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Charleston, South Carolina, reverted to Islam in 2011.
She attended `Eid prayers this year with her husband where the Muslim community organized a community dinner and provided activities for the children to make the day special.
Once the large celebration was over, Shuman said smaller groups of people broke off by nationality to spend the rest of the day together.
“Most people head to parks in the area to cook out and to celebrate,” she said.
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However, others make time for charity.
“In past years the women’s youth group offered a cookout for the homeless in the poverty-stricken areas of the city,” Shuman said.
She said celebrating `Eid before she was married was difficult because she had no knowledge of traditions or many Muslim friends with which to spend the day.
“I get excited now that I am married and have a family,” Shuman said.
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“My husband and I got a lamb for the first time this year. Before I was married it was hard to celebrate because I had never been to the mosque and didn’t have Muslim friends so I wasn’t even sure how to celebrate.”
World Muslims celebrated on Saturday, October 4, `Eid Al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice”, which marks the end of the Hajj season and is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Fitr.
A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares with six others in sacrificing a camel or cow as an act of worship during the four-day `Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah as an act of obedience and submission.
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The Udhiyah meat is divided in three equal parts, one each for one’s own family, friends and the poor.
`Eid Challenges
Assem Altay, a born Muslim from Kazakhstan, said despite being a lifelong follower of Islam, there are still challenges to make `Eid special in America.
“Many of the Islamic traditions got lost during the 70 years (Kazakhstan) was under Communist atheist Russia, but I think `Eid in the United States can be fun as long as you make it fun,” she told OnIslam.net.
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“Our `Eid traditions started when my son Adnan was 3 years old,” Altay said.
“We started the tradition of celebrating and making `Eid a big deal so he knows that this is a special holiday for Muslims since he is being raised in non-Muslim country.
“We have some family friends who feel the same, so normally we get together with them after the morning `Eid prayer. Everyone brings something to eat and a gift for each child,” she added.
Altay said she created her own `Eid decorations to give her home a festive feel, and she has also organized games and arts and crafts for the children.
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“Some of the activities I’ve done in the past are pin the tail to a sheep for `Eid Al-Adha, or I will split the kids into two teams, give each team a large poster and markers and let them express themselves. Their (projects) could be `Eid themed or whatever they love,” she said.
“These things make memories from each `Eid.”
However, for other American Muslims there are some `Eid memories they’d rather forget.
Layla Sawyer, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, said non-Muslims have taken to protesting in a large park where Muslims offer the `Eid prayer.
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“The large gathering at the park each year usually attracts the local Islamaphobes who come out to protest with their signs demonizing Islam and the Prophet (peace be upon him),” said Sawyer.
But she said the Muslims facing these challenges have learned to deal properly with those who would seek to interrupt their prayers and mar their celebrations.
“No Muslims fight with them (the protestors),” she said.
“Last year they took water and tea and sweets out to them.”
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Shuman also looks on the bright side of celebrating `Eid in America.
“My favorite part of the day is seeing how all the women dress for the prayers, as we all wear our ‘native’ clothes,” she said.
“The mosque is very diverse so we are blessed to be exposed to brothers and sisters from all over the world.”(T/P008/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
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