Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, the holy month of Siyam (fasting). All Muslims – from adults to children – turn up at Eidgah in the morning hours on the Eid day to express gratitude to almighty Allah and seek His blessings. This is the day of rejoicing. Muslims take baths and wear new dresses before going to offer prayer at the Eidgah.

There has been contrast in performing Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in Bangladesh and America. In Bangladesh, Muslims attired in pyjama and kurta perform prayer in open fields known as Eidgah while Muslims in America generally perform Eid prayer in mosques or in community centres or hired halls of hotels. The dress of Muslims in America varies from European dress like suit or pant and shirt while many expatriates from the Middle Eastern countries prefer to wear long dresses. In Bangladesh, Muslims generally wear caps while in America they offer prayer without wearing cap.

It is customary for every earning member of a family to pay fitra (alms) before offering prayer. The rate of fitra is fixed on the basis of market price of wheat or flour. This fitra is given to the poor and the destitute so that they can celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr along with rich and middle-income people together. In Islam, there is no difference between poor and rich people. Fitra must be given in advance to make money available to the poor. I saw in Bangladesh fitra is collected on Eid day while in America it is collected at least one week ahead of Eid to make money available to poor people on time so that they can offer prayer with rich people. Fitra has been fixed in Virginia at $ 10 dollars. During the holy month of Ramadan, Zakah (Zakat) is paid by Muslims. Zakah is mandatory for those who have enough wealth to help the have-nots to bring about a balance in society. The word Zakat means both purification and growth. One of the most important principles of Islam, as mentioned in a booklet prepared by the Islamic affairs department of the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC, is that all things belong to Allah, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.

Practically every mosque in America maintains a food bank. Rich and middle-class families in America contribute money to the food banks. Food and clothes are distributed among low-income Muslims and Christians alike. In churches, there is the same provision of food bank. Some mosques in America also organise medical clinics to provide medical assistance to poor patients. Another significance of the day is the exchange of Eid greetings and the exchange of visits between relatives and neighbours, apart from distribution of sweets. In America, such scenario is unthinkable if Eid falls on an official day. However, Bangladesh Association of America, Inc., which is registered in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, organises gatherings on Saturday or Sunday to exchange greetings among Bengali Muslims. Mosques also organise such gathering on Saturday if Eid falls on Friday.

Today many Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic community. Several hundred thousand arrived in America from Eastern Europe as has been reflected in opening of first Albanian Mosque in Maine in 1915. A group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in Brooklyn in New York in 1928. In Virginia, there are hundred mosques for Muslims. Dar Al-Hijrah mosque-cum-Islamic centre offers training to those who want to learn the holy Quran while classes in teachings of Islam are held for youth, both male and female. Adams centre mosque in Virginia organises medical centre to help poor Muslims by providing treatment. In 1947, the Washington Islamic centre was opened during the time of President Truman. Today Muslim population in America is gradually increasing every year. By now the figure could be six million. The New York City is the largest concentration of Muslim community. There are 2,106 mosques in America.

Siyam has been mandated by Allah. It is said in the holy Quran: “O ye who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn self-restraint.” (2. 183). Eid-ul-Fitr brings joyous moments for the Muslim community around the world. Temporal differences between the rich and poor become insignificant as reflected in Ramadan and in Eid-ul-Fitr congregation. Islam is the blending of materialist and spiritual aspects of life.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of Toastmasters International Club, writes from Virginia.