Area Muslims Mark Eid al-Fitr, the End of Ramadan

An overflow, multiethnic crowd of more than 14,000 Muslims flocked to the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday morning to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The gathering was one of several throughout the county where faithful Muslims, dressed in formal traditional garb, lined up shoulder-to-shoulder facing Mecca to pray and celebrate the completion of 30 days of fasting, charitable deeds and introspection.

“We just had the month of Ramadan, where we learned self-discipline, self-reliance, self-control” said Dr. Abdul Majeed, of the Islamic Society of Orange County. “Let’s keep these qualities for the rest of the year and show them to our fellow human beings. This is how this country and your fellow Americans will [learn] about Islam.”

Friday was actually the end of Ramadan, which celebrates the revelation of the Koran, Islam’s holy book, to the prophet Muhammad. The devout not only fast from dawn to dusk, but also abstain from sex, tobacco and other pleasures. Each night, many families recite a portion of the Koran, so that all 114 chapters have been read by month’s end.

“We pray that Allah accept our fast, accept our humble devotion, accept our humble service and help us to do more,” said Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, president of the Islamic Society of North America and director and imam of the local Islamic Society, at the Costa Mesa services. “We pray that Allah help change ourselves and transform ourselves into better people--full of faith, hope, honesty and sincerity.”

Muslim leaders said the month of denial creates a closer connection with Allah and enhances a person’s actions throughout the year.

“You learn to be more patient and learn to have more self-control over desires, and that makes you more spiritual,” said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. “It purifies you mentally, spiritually and emotionally. It really helps make you a better person.”

The prayer services were somber. Following Muslim tradition, men and women were separated, and removed their shoes before stepping onto colorful prayer rugs they had brought along.

Reciting prayers, the participants alternately cupped their hands, stood, knelt and touched their foreheads to the floor in signs of humility.

“We bear witness there is no God but Allah and we bear witness that Muhammad is his messenger,” Siddiqi said. “May Allah make this day a very blessed day for you and may Allah give you many days like this.”

But Siddiqi cautioned his “brothers and sisters” not to forget their suffering counterparts in Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir and Iraq.

Even though the world just spent billions celebrating the year 2000, he said the numerical change on calendars means nothing if it is not accompanied by change in the treatment of those who are less fortunate.

Orange County residents with ties to countries around the world--including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Somalia and Guatemala--participated in the Eid festivities.

“We may come from different countries, speak different native languages and have different ethnic backgrounds, but we are one people,” Siddiqi said. “Our faith is one.”

*

So many people showed up at the county fairgrounds that the crowd spilled outside during the 9 a.m. service, and the organizers held a second prayer service afterward.

The event has grown every year, just as the Islamic community has grown in Orange County, where an estimated 150,000 Muslims now live.

Eid services took place throughout the county, including a 2,000-person gathering at the year-old Islamic Center of Mission Viejo and about 1,500 people at the Sequoia Conference Center of Buena Park.

Ayloush attended the Buena Park services.

“It was great. They distributed a lot of toys and gifts to the children, and as usual there were sweets for everybody,” he said. Long after the services ended, “people chose to stay and chat and hug each other and wish each other a joyful and blessed Eid.”

At the county fairgrounds, solemn prayers gave way to joyful hugs, preparations for the feasting and visits ahead, and greetings of “Eid Mubarak,” or “holiday blessings to you.”

Fashion statements abounded, from the highly traditional to the trendy--and some interesting combinations of the two.

Nona Sultana, 16, of Tustin was wearing a periwinkle blue sari, glittery eye makeup and a damani, or traditional gold chain that ran down the part in her hair and ended with a jeweled pendent above her forehead.

Her mother, Nupur Rahman, and her cousin, Ema Sultana, 15, were discussing the presents, upcoming treats and visits that lay ahead Saturday.

“It’s one day where everybody gets together,” Nona Sultana said.

And the food--”that’s the main part,” her mother added.

Khaleel Ahmad, of Anaheim, agreed. “You get together with family, enjoy and eat as much as you can.”

Saeeda Hasan, from Stockton, who was visiting her family in Orange County for the holidays, stood out with visible flowing hair, makeup and a flattering pale-gold shalwar kameez, a long silky blouse draped over matching pants. She was quite a contrast to some of the older, more traditional women, who wore the conservative hejab, or shapeless loose-fitting clothes that cover all curves.

Hasan’s family had planned an open house on Saturday, and served traditional Pakistani fare, such as Basmati rice, meat curries and samosas and sweets including burfi, similar to ice cream, and khir, a rice pudding.

The importance of passing such traditions down to children who are immersed in American culture made the day especially significant to many participants.

Yasmine Ayubi of Garden Grove brought her 6-year-old daughter, Benazire.

“Our community coming together is important. A lot of kids see Christmas,” she said. “We need to do something to show that we also have traditions.”