'Historic' Ramadan Exhibit On Display At Naperville City Hall

NAPERVILLE, IL -- Across the U.S., millions of Muslims are spending more than 15 hours a day fasting for the holy month of Ramadan, a holiday that many non-Muslims may not know much about. Naperville is honoring its own Muslim community and hoping to spread knowledge about Ramadan with a Ramadan exhibit that is on display at City Hall.

It is the first time City Hall has displayed an exhibit to honor Ramadan and local Muslims are calling it "a historic moment."

In an interview online with the Islamic Center of Naperville, who designed and coordinated the exhibit, Mayor Steve Chirico made a statement about the Ramadan exhibit, "I appreciate the friendship, the community, and the fellowship that we all share."

"This is a chance for us to celebrate with you and we're happy to be a part of it," Chirico said.

The display includes plaques with information about the holy month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and the breaking of a month-long fast for many Muslims. One plaque includes information about Hajj, a journey Muslims strive to make to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

"We're very happy and blessed to live in a city where, Alhamdulillah, people respect us for our beliefs and allow us to practice our holidays and support us in doing so," one Muslim resident who was at City Hall said in an online video.

Ramadan began on May 6 in 2019 and will last until around June 4.