PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Islamic leaders in New Jersey are asking state lawmakers to add an important holiday to the school calendar, so students can get the day off to spend with family.
Eid al-Fitr is one of the most important celebrations on the calendar for Muslims. CAIR-New Jersey Communications Manager Dina Sayedahmed said Atlantic City and Pleasantville are two of just 27 districts in the state to give all students the day off for Eid al-Fitr.
“The number could be higher, and this is just reflective of New Jersey’s population,” said Sayedahmed.
“We have the largest percentage of Muslims in the US here in New Jersey at 3%, and it’s not an unreasonable ask for our students to request that they are able to celebrate their holidays and balance their religious and their academic obligations.”
Sayedahmed urges Muslims to write to their elected officials and speak up at school board and city council meetings to make change happen.
Related
“This is recognition of the Muslim population. It’s making space for the growing number of Muslims. It’s opening up conversations on Eid, on Islam,” said Sayedahmed. “And in a way, this does also play into helping dispel anti-Muslim bigotry, violence, rhetoric, etc.”
Eid al-Fitr is a celebration after the long month fasting of Ramadan. A year on the lunar Islamic calendar is about 11 days shorter than a year on the solar-based Gregorian calendar, so the day off for students would change every year. In 2023, it will be April 21.
Muslims additionally celebrate Eid al-Adha, a holiday marking the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, in late June this year, but again due to the lunar Islamic calendar, there will be years when both Eid-Al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha would be celebrated during the school year. Islamic leaders are also asking for school districts to recognize that day as well.