Members of the Muslim community in Bakersfield, California, are gearing up for `Eid Al-Fitr festivities after two years of pandemic restrictions.
“At the end of the month [Ramadan], we celebrate as we end one of the greatest worships, which is one of the pillars of Islam,” said Imam Abdul Mushen Alshayef, 23ABC reported.
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Day to Celebrate
Muslims in Bakersfield believe `Eid is a time to celebrate the progress they made and use those lessons through the rest of the year.
“It means that we need to set ourselves up for success. We use the month of Ramadan to kind of have that discipline, to have that kind of reset, to go back to the true, authentic values of our religion, for overall being a better person,” said local Islamic leader Mohammad Arman.
“[We] celebrate the breaking of the fast, or Eid-al-Fitr, which is what this name implies. It’s very significant to me and to my family, because the children will get to play, and they will get to have gifts, and we’ll have money and it’s very significant. It’s having the time of the holiday for Muslims and being able to celebrate it is very significant.”
Arman said hundreds of people are expected to gather at the Islamic Community Center off Jewetta Avenue for `Eid prayers, inviting people to share Muslims in their celebrations.
“We are part of you, and you’re part of us. Feel free to join us in [celebrating] our `Eid. If you know any Muslim friends, or family that you have, greet them with for `Eid, celebrate it with them. Try to understand where it all came from and really just know that our religion is a religion of peace.”
Marking the end of Ramadan fasting, `Eid Al-Fitr is one the two main Islamic religious festivals along with `Eid Al-Adha.