How to Celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Detroit

Dearborn’s Islamic Center of America welcomes 5,000–6,000 people annually to partake in traditional Eid prayers and ceremonies, as well as family-friendly activities and refreshments. This year, they may even host a carnival, though the dates have yet to be set. As always, the start of Eid depends on the sighting of the moon, which marks the end of Ramadan. Last year’s celebrations were particularly special, as they included the unveiling of a new Eid stamp from the U.S. Post Office.

In past years, the majority-Muslim town of Hamtramck and surrounding communities have celebrated with festivities which include traditional dancing and a day at the park, sponsored in part by the Iman Islamic Complex-Masjid Mua’th Bin Jabil, a local mosque.

Charity, one of the tenets of Muslim faith, is another way to commemorate the day. The Michigan Muslim Community Council leads an annual effort called the Ramadan Fight Against Hunger that distributes food and resources to hungry Michigan residents. Last year, they raised $13,000 and donated 40 tons of items to the needy.

“It’s a family environment,” said Sumaiya Ahmed, the Council’s communications director. “You see people of all different ages involved and the beautiful part is that it’s intricate. It is not just Muslim people; we have Jews and Christians who come to help. We have people of different faiths and people who might not have any religious faith coming together, working together with neighbors, family and friends to give back to the community.”