Eid Al-Fitr: Muslims in Montreal commemorate end of holy month of Ramadan

Eid Al-Fitr is an opportunity for Muslim community members to gather and celebrate the end of Ramadan fasting.

Muslim Montrealers celebrated at the Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization (CIIC) mosque on Belmont Street.

“Engaging in virtuous deeds, fasting, praying at the night, making prayers for God. It’s a blessed month and while we end the month, we celebrate our accomplishments and what we have achieved and what we have performed from worship towards Allah swt,” said attendee Ahmed Abdelwahab.

“So it’s an important occasion for us to observe with old backgrounds and all societies that that celebrate Eid. It’s a mosaic of cultures.”

Ever since fellow attendee Reem Ahmed immigrated to Canada, celebrating at the CIIC has become a tradition.

“I’m originally from Egypt, and ever since I came here, it’s been like a special day to celebrate Eid within the Muslim community in the CIIC because it feels like I’m home with family and friends and loved ones,” Ahmed said. “I see everyone in here and it makes the Eid special for our kids as well, like our Eids back home in Egypt. It’s really special and cheerful and I love this Eid.”

Celebrations of Eid Al-Fitr are minimized this year in solidarity with the victims of the Israel-Hamas war, and the Eid sermon was devoted to talking about the suffering of those in Gaza.

“We couldn’t celebrate as we used to celebrate earlier. We feel that if we celebrate there’s something wrong,” said Iyad Abuhamed, the director of the CIIC.

“Our responsibility here, why we are feeling the happiness of worshipping Allah swt and finishing the season of worship like Ramadan, it’s the moment where we have to stand by and support our people in Gaza, stand for justice, call for justice for them, and do our best to release the pain, do our best to heal them, do our best to support them as much as we can.”