Ramadan in America

A member of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, lower left, participates in an Iftar dinner at Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia. (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

Above, students and advisers paint a mural that recognizes diversity in faith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AP Images)

U.S. Embassy Jakarta would like to send our best wishes to Muslims in Indonesia and around the world.  Ramadan Kareem.  Each year, millions of Muslims celebrate Ramadan in America, joining the more than 1.5 billion Muslims celebrating worldwide.  During last year’s holy month of Ramadan, President Obama and the First Lady made the following remarks:

“Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God.  This is a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared.  But Ramadan is also a time of intense devotion and reflection – a time when Muslims fast during the day and pray during the night; when Muslims provide support to others to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere.  For all of us must remember that the world we want to build – and the changes that we want to make – must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.

These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.   Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality.  And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.”

On this page, you will find information about Muslims in America and how American Muslims celebrate Ramadan.  Please check back as we will be adding new and additional content throughout the month.

Did you know?

• Muslim Americans living in the United States feel more hopeful and consider themselves better off than they did three years ago (Source)
  
• The oldest existing mosque in America, The Mother Mosque, was built in 1934, sits on a quiet residential street in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Source)
• There are about 3,000 small and large Islamic centers, mosques, and prayer locations in the US. (Source)
• In 1999, the U.S. State Department hosted its first Iftar for Muslim Americans at the State Department. (Source)
• In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service issued their first stamp honoring Eid al-Fitr. (Source)
• Iftar dinners at the White House during Ramadan have become regular occasions since the mid-1990’s. (Source)
• Muslim Americans work in federal, state and local governments throughout the United States. (Source)