Muslims Mark End of Ramadan With Mass Eid Celebrations

Muslims across the world, including Chicago and other major cities in the USA celebrated one of their biggest religious festivals.

The Muslim Religious festival was called Eid-UL-Fitr. Special prayers were celebrated with traditional and religious fervor across Chicago and its suburbs on Wednesday June 5th, 2019. Many Muslims celebrated on Tuesday, June 4th, 2019 based on their calendar and method. Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to different Muslim organization and Mosques declaring the start and end of Ramadan a day or two. Eid al-Fitr is an Arabic word translates to “Festival of Breaking the Fast.”

The Shawwal moon was not sighted on Monday, after when the Chicago Hilal Committee had announced that Eid-UL-Fitr would be celebrated on Wednesday. Eid al-Fitr is based on sighting of the moon as per the Islamic lunar calendar. The night before Eid, People were waiting for the new moon sighting to be confirmed. Once it is declared to be Eid, they exchanged hugs and congratulated one another by saying “Eid Mubarak”.

Strict security measures were in place in major prayer were held like Skokie, Bridgeview, Villa Park etc.

Police personals and SWAT cars were deployed outside mosques and other places of worship.

Eid prayers were offered at overcrowded mosques and Open Places in all over Chicago land and its suburbs of the Chicago. Several Special prayers were offered for the well-being of the country while in sermons the religious leaders will highlight the significance of Eid-ul-Fitr. Due to Eid was on week day many employers and schools allow time off for Muslim workers and children. After prayer attendees mixed up with the people and exchanged Eid greeting and hugs everyone saying to each other "Eid Mubarak" which means "have a blessed Eid." This is common and often accompanied by tradition they were hugging each other three times after the Salat al Eid.

Eid prayer timings differ in Some Places. Chicago Eid congregations started from 6 a.m. Some places, but most places were 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. due to the Heavy attendance and overcrowded many mosques and Islamic centers offered multiple Prayers.

Every year the biggest Eid congregation was held at Toyota Park Stadium. Where an estimated fifteen thousand Muslim celebrated Eid-al-Fitr prayer was held under the Mosque Foundation of Chicago due to heavy rain they pray in the mosque.

Muslim Community Center, Chicago held Eid prayer in a Stadium in Skokie. Where more than five thousand of Muslims gathered. Special prayers were offered for the integrity, solidarity and prosperity of the Muslim Community worldwide.

Mecca Center Willow brook held Eid prayer normally at Hinsdale South High School football field in Darien, Illinois but this year due to heavy rain they pray at the mosque. Where large numbers of Muslim joined Eid Prayer.