Muslims around Chicago celebrated Eid al-Fitr Friday as they brought the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to a close.
Eid is a time of celebration typically marked with prayer, food, sweets and family gatherings. The holiday comes after Muslims spent Ramadan abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours while spending their nights praying or reading the Quran.
According to a 2022 study, Illinois has a large and diverse Muslim population. About 350,000 Illinois residents self-identify as Muslim, most of whom live in Cook County.
Muryem Quadri, a Bridgeport resident, is Muslim and grew up in Naperville. Even as a child, her parents would travel to Chicago to participate in religious and cultural events.
She said that is why she volunteered at the Eid celebration inside the South Side YMCA gym.
“This day is literally the God-ordained day of celebration. It’s written into our faith that we’re supposed to come together and be in community with each other. You’re not supposed to be isolated,” Quadri said.
In Hyde Park, hundreds gathered to celebrate the end of Ramadan. On Friday morning, families entered the gym wearing colorful clothes. Children were excited to see their friends and enjoy the sweet treats the community provided.
Asima Ahmad, 43, attended with her husband and two children. As the prayer and sermon ended, she took selfies with a group of family and friends. They gathered their belongings and headed outside, where children could enjoy bounce houses and treats. Her toddler ran toward the ice cream truck.
Ahmad, who lives in Lincoln Park, said she likes to bring her family to the celebration because of its diversity. She said she appreciates the community she has built.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world that is very sad and sometimes makes us lose hope,” Ahmad said. “But it’s communities like this and events like this where we can be together that makes us realize that we are all one people. Regardless of the differences that we have, we are, in the end, all the same.”
Mike Swies is the outreach director for Ta’leef Collective. He, along with multiple organizations, helped organize the celebration. He said the Eid al-Fitr celebration in Hyde Park has existed for at least two decades and he is glad to help continue the tradition.
“You have people from Gambia and from West Africa, from Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Americans here who have become Muslim,” Swies said. “You have the African American community. We even have some Indigenous First Nations Muslims here today as well.”
Swies said the local community has global connections across cultures and ethnic groups, and that made Ramadan difficult this year.
“It’s this difficult thing that we’ve been having for the past few years as a Muslim community,” he said. “How do you celebrate while also holding this pain? You wish you could do something, but you can’t.”
As Muryem Quadri, who had been busy ensuring the event ran smoothly, took a moment to reflect, she stood next to her husband and looked out at the crowd enjoying the event.
Some families were taking pictures. Others were enjoying the bounce houses and ice cream. She said she feels lucky to be part of this community and hopes to raise her children in it.
“I’ve always been a part of a collectivist society. It’s really beautiful to know that I have a giant network of support,” Quadri said. “I have 100 people,and that’s not an exaggeration, that I know I could call if I need something. That’s not something that I take for granted.”
