Muslims in the United States say they feel blessed that the mosques are open for Islam’s holiest month, Ramadan, which ends on May 12.
Last year at this time, their doors were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, with the rate of infections mostly decreasing across the country and millions of Americans receiving the vaccine, mosques are reopening.
For Muslims, who make up about 1% of the U.S. population, Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, fasting during daylight hours and helping those in need.
“Ramadan is still a little different,” said Amir Mohammed, originally from Ethiopia, who goes to a mosque in Alexandria, Virginia. Even with wearing masks, checking temperatures and limiting the number of people in the mosques to about half capacity, “it is still a blessing,” he said.
Imam Naeem Baig, outreach director at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia agreed.
“People are so happy the mosque is open,” he said. “It gives them an opportunity to see each other and pray together — the feeling of community you can’t get by being at home.”
“I’m thrilled to be back in the mosque with the brothers and sisters,” said Imam Khalid Griggs, with the Community Mosque of Winston Salem, in North Carolina. “If Allah (God) wanted to take my soul right now, I would feel complete.”❐
