Muslims mark Ramadan's end at Midland Beach - SILive.com
The Muslim American Society, which encountered much rancor last summer when it tried to establish a mosque and community center in a former convent a few blocks away in Midland Beach, opened a center in Dongan Hills last month to mostly favorable reaction and is planning to make future Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations interfaith events.
Hurricane Irene was long gone, the only reminders being plastic tarps laid on the soaked ground for the comfort of the faithful. Dressed in a mix of traditional and Western garb, the Muslims removed their shoes and knelt as they filled the air with prayer.
The MAS has held the outdoor Eid-ul-Fitr celebration -- which is one of two high holy days -- at Midland Beach for two years in a row. in addition to indoor prayer sessions at all the mosques on Staten Island.
Similar MAS outdoor events also were held in Bensonhurt Park in Brooklyn, which was attended by about 5,000, people, and at Astoria Park in Queens, which last year attracted about 3,000 people, said Dr. Mohamed Sadeia, president of the society's Staten Island/Brooklyn chapter.
"I think it's about time for us to be open, if people know us, they will join us," Sadeia said. "In the future, we hope that this celebration will include not only Muslims but the interfaith community."
"We are trying to get people to learn about the culture of Muslim in a celebratory way," said Khaled Lamada, who is on the MAS board and is president of the Society of Egyptian Americans for Development.
The observance of Ramadan assigns special importance to charitable acts, as fasting should develop compassion for the poor and needy and inspire the act of giving.
Muslims were urged to do charitable acts on Staten Island and to support efforts for democracy, freedom and justice by Muslims in the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world by Sherif Ahmed, an activist and member of MAS who gave the sermon.
The outdoor celebration was part of an overall effort by the MAS at transparency and to define its own community in positive ways 10 years after 9/11, Ahmed said at the event's conclusion.
"We approach 9/11 with very heavy hearts," Ahmed said.
"The aftermath affected our community in a very negative way. People were unjustly detained, it was a time of confusion and fear. We never want to have that sense of fear and isolation again. We feel very much for the families of the victims of 9/11 and stand in the trenches with them in solidarity."
Midland Beach is a central location for many of the estimated 35,000 Staten Island Muslims, most of Albanian, Pakistani, Egyptian, Liberian and Nigerian extraction. Muslims play an integral role in the community, as about 10 percent of the medical community on Staten Island are Muslim, while others own delis and gas stations, said Hesham El-Meligy, an interfaith community leader.
Devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan, which changes according to the lunar calendar, and after the three-day celebration, some fast for an additional six days.
31 Aug, 2011--
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