(WASHINGTON D.C., 4/5/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released a template message for American Muslim parents to request school officials provide Muslim students religious accommodations on Eid ul-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
This year, the month of Ramadan began around April 2, 2022, and will end around May 2, 2022. Eid al-Fitr will also begin around May 3, 2022. Because many Muslims calculate the start and end of Ramadan and Eid based on moon sightings, it is common for Muslims to have different views about when Ramadan and Eid start and end.
TEMPLATE MESSAGE TO SCHOOL OFFICALS
https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/AccommodationsRequest.pdf
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“It is important that school officials recognize Ramadan is a very special time for their Muslim students and work to create safe spaces for students fasting and praying – now and throughout the year. We urge all Muslim parents whose children attend schools that do not already have formal prayer spaces and tables or rooms for fasting students to contact their schools and request that their children be accommodated.”
BACKGROUND ON EID AND RAMADAN:
Eid ul-Fitr is the first of the two major Muslim holidays. The second holiday, Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), comes near the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.
During Eid ul-Fitr or “feast of fast breaking” holiday, Muslims offer public prayers, exchange social visits and seek to strengthen family and community bonds. During this holiday, Muslims greet each other by saying “Eid mubarak” (EED-moo-BAR-ak), meaning “blessed Eid,” and “taqabbalallah ta’atakum,” or “may God accept your deeds.” Many communities also hold multicultural bazaars and other family activities following communal prayers.
Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from the break of dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the “five pillars” of Islam.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com