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SALT LAKE CITY — Muslims around the world are celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The Eid holiday includes three days of celebrations after a month of prayers and dawn-to-dusk fasting.
Observant Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking as a way to test their faith. One Utah family hopes the holiday inspires better living and hopes no one has any doubts of their desires to be good neighbors and good citizens.
The call to prayer on Thursday morning was doubly important for Utah Muslims. Hundreds came together in Sandy to celebrate Eid. Some were born and raised in America, others come from Egypt, Pakistan or Bosnia. Some prefer traditional clothing, others Western dress.
"Muslims all around, they wear different outfits, but everybody can have the same beliefs... fasting, donating to the poor, the five pillars of Islam," said Utah Muslim Nancy Newman.
Their religious leader asked them to take forward what they learned during Ramadan — increased faith, integrity and commitment to family.
Muslims all around, they wear different outfits, but everybody can have the same beliefs... fasting, donating to the poor, the five pillars of Islam.
–Utah Muslim Nancy Newman
"My wish for them, to be a great Muslim, good example for everybody, take care of everybody and be giving, be a great person," said Sawsan Ibrahim, another Utah Muslim.
For the Ibrahim family, Utahns for 35 years now, character is important. The parents have influenced their children and now grandchildren to be good citizens. Every year they have a service project.
"My kids, all four of them, they got together and they bought some food and they went to the shelter during the month of ramadan downtown," Ibrahim said.
In Utah, they say there is little suspicion about the faith, more curiosity.
"They always wonder if we believe in a different god... but, to clarify it, we believe in the same God as everybody else," said Utah Muslim Sally Ibrahim.
The next generation is enjoying the reunion.
"(I like) just being with the family and all my friends," said Omar Newman.
If you and your family would like to know more about your Muslim neighbors and how they worship. Both the Imam of the Utah Islamic Center in Sandy and the Imam of the Khadeeja Mosque in West Valley City say they are happy to have you visit.
