Ramadan in the United States

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A mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where prayers and Tarawih prayers are held during Ramadan. Mother-Mosque-of-America.jpg
A mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where prayers and Tarawih prayers are held during Ramadan.

Muslims in the United States observe the holy month of Ramadan. [1] As Muslims make up just over 1% of the country's population, celebrations tend to center on mosques and Islamic centers. [2] [3]

Contents

Islam, and by extension Ramadan, were largely introduced to the U.S. and initially practiced by enslaved African Americans. Thus, from the late 19th through much of the 20th century, Ramadan celebrations in the United States were intertwined with African-American culture and traditions. [4]

Although Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, the end of the month, are not federal holidays, national and state institutions may offer accommodations to those observing the holiday. [5] Increasingly, some school districts in the United States have recognized Eid al-Fitr as a holiday and given students the day off. [6]

Fasting

According to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, 80% of American Muslims observe the Ramadan fast, with little difference based on gender or whether they are immigrants or American-born. [7]

Tarawih prayers

Tarawih prayers are held in mosques and Islamic centers during the month of Ramadan. Muslims come to perform communal prayers and recite the Quran. Religious and educational lectures and programmes related to Ramadan are also organised in these places. [1]

Communication and social coexistence

Some Ramadan events in the United States aim to foster communication and social coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims. Joint Iftar banquets are organized where non-Muslims are invited to experience iftar and exchange cultures and knowledge. [8]

Challenges

Muslims in the United States face some challenges while fasting and observing Ramadan in a non-Islamic environment. Common challenges include: [9] [10] [11] [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "رمضان في أمريكا" [Ramadan in America]. share.america.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31.
  2. ↑ "US Muslims to Begin Ramadan Observance as War Rages in Gaza". Voice of America. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  3. ↑ "What is Ramadan and how do Muslims observe the Islamic holy month?". AP News. 2025-02-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  4. ↑ "Ramadan". National Museum of African American History and Culture . Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  5. ↑ Simms, Jessica (2025-03-27). "Opting out of gym, offering prayer spaces: How CT school districts support students honoring Ramadan". CT Insider.
  6. ↑ Chen, Shawna (2023-03-23). "An increasing number of U.S. school districts now observe Ramadan". Axios. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  7. ↑ Fahmy, Dalia; Mohamed, Besheer (2018-05-15). "Most U.S. Muslims observe Ramadan by fasting during daylight hours". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  8. ↑ "شهر رمضان في نسخته الأمريكية - محمد المنشاوي - بوابة الشروق". www.shorouknews.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  9. ↑ "المسلمون في أمريكا.. تحديات الوجود ومتطلبات التأثير - منتدى العلماء". msf-online.com (in Arabic). 2021-04-14. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  10. ↑ "رمضان في الغرب والأقليات المسلمة، تحديات الأسرة والناشئة". omran.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  11. ↑ "الأقلية المسلمة في أمريكيا الشمالية و مشكلاتها التربوية". platform.almanhal.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  12. ↑ "رمضان في أمريكا" [Ramadan in America]. Al Akhbar (in Arabic). 2019-05-26. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2023-06-08.

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