Most N.American Muslims Celebrate Eid On Tuesday

Most N.American Muslims Celebrate Eid On Tuesday

By Dina Rashed, IOL correspondent
CHIGAGO, November 24 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The majority of
Muslims in the U.S. and Canada are expected to celebrate the first day of
Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday, November 25, with many other Muslims around the
world.

The Islamic society of North America has previously determined that
according to its method of calculation which combines scientific sighting
and the ability to have a visual of the new moon, the first day of Eid
al-Fitr will be Tuesday and not Wednesday, November 26. For those who
followed the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)'s calculation, the
month of Ramadan will be 29 days.

This year, there has been increasing consensus to follow the umbrella
organization as the majority of the Muslim communities celebrated the first
day Ramadan on Monday, October 27.

Fewer communities started Ramadan on Sunday, October 26, some following a
country of origin for the community members, while some based their decision
on the scientific birth of the moon without requiring confirmation of a
visual or the ability to have a visual of the new moon itself. To them it is
confirmed that Monday, November 24, will bring the month of Ramadan to a
complete 30 days.

In Chicago, the Eid announcement of Council of Islamic Organizations of
Greater Chicago has been less precise saying that 'most probably' Eid
al-Fitr will fall on Tuesday, adding that "because Muslims follow a lunar
calendar, final determination is dependent on moon sighting, with a slight
possibility that the date will be November 26."

In California, the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC), one of the
state's strongest communities has already announced that Eid prayers will be
held on Tuesday. ICSC has been following the same method used by ISNA for
years even before the national organization has adopted it.

The congregational prayer of the Eid brings thousands of Muslims to their
nearest Islamic center in a joyful celebration of faith and accomplishment.

For the North American Muslims who reside in metropolitan cities, the spread
of Islamic centers has widened their options to join certain communities for
the prayer and made the commute much easier.

While other Muslim families living in more remote areas or in states with
smaller Islamic communities, the travel to the nearest center may take up to
a two-hour drive, many centers accommodate this by scheduling more than one
prayer, or Salah.

A time of celebration to Muslim adults and children alike, students enrolled
in Islamic schools have traditionally enjoyed it more as their academic
calendar is marked with a week-long holiday.

This year, the Eid will coincide with celebrating Thanks Giving in the U.S.
which has given many families whose kids are not enrolled in Islamic
schools, as well as the working adults an opportunity to enjoy a five-day
holiday break.

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