Ramadan 2010

In 2010, Ramadan will begin on or about August 11 and will end with Eid al-Fitr celebrations on or about September 9. 
(Ramadan and Eid dates differ among countries).

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
August 11, 2010

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I want to extend our best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.
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. More

Muslim-American Greeting-Card Makers Survive in Tough Market
Small businesses are meeting challenges from e-cards and a tough economy
America.gov
August 9, 2010
Salma Arastu’s artistic talents are highlighted on this Eid card design.
Washington — Some Muslim-American business owners say that when it comes to wishing friends a joyous Eid Al-Fitr, many customers think Internet greeting cards just aren’t good enough. They’re still turning to traditional paper Islamic greeting cards.

The American Religious Landscape
America has a diverse religious landscape, and immigration is transforming it even more.
While most Americans are devout, they are tolerant of other peoples’ religious beliefs and are strikingly nondogmatic in the sense of not believing their own religion to be the only path to salvation, according to the Pew Research Center.
Interfaith dialogue is common in many communities, as in this interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, in Los Angeles.
(from America.gov)
 

Observing Ramadan Worldwide
Many of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims will observe the month of Ramadan in different ways, blending their own cultural customs with Islamic traditions of prayer and fasting. In the United States alone, Muslims come from more than 80 countries and represent a mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, ideological, social and economic groups. (from America.gov)
 

Did You Know?
As this photo gallery shows, today’s Muslim American population is an extraordinary mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, ideological, social, economic, and religious groups. (from America.gov)

 

A Multicultural Ramadan 
American Muslims trace their ancestry to more than 80 countries. America.gov explores the richness of these traditions through the lens of Ramadan.  (from America.gov)

Being Muslim in America
View PDF (5.87 MB)
The young women pictured on our cover are both Muslim. They live near Detroit, Michigan, in a community with many Arab-American residents. Each expresses her faith in her own way, with a combination of traditional and modern dress. Here, they compete fiercely on the basketball court in a sport that blends individual skills and team effort. They - along with the other men, women, and children in this publication - demonstrate every day what it is like to be Muslim in America.

 
e-Journal USA : Freedom of Faith
View PDF (5.88 MB)

The principle of religious freedom is a cherished right in the United States, one that has historical roots older than the formation of the nation itself. In the 21st century, the United States pulses with a unique cultural chemistry brought on by a wave of immigration which has brought followers of more diverse faiths to many communities.  This edition of eJournal USA examines how the nation adjusts to these demographic changes to remain true to the principles of freedom of faith. 
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