Eid al-Fitr is a celebration marking the end of Ramadan.? The holy month of Ramadan is a very important time in the Islamic calendar. ?Ramadan begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon and is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.? The date changes each year because Islam uses the lunar calendar (based on the cycles of the moon), so it is not a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar.? Observers of Ramadan do not eat or drink between dawn and sunset, otherwise known as fasting.? Fasting is important during Ramadan as observers believe it allows them to devote themselves to their faith. ?Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and prayer, but also for doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends.? Normally, people will make a special effort to connect with their communities and reach out to people in need.? Eid al-Fitr is known as the festival of the breaking of the fast and begins upon the first sight of the new moon?in the sky after the start of Ramadan.? Muslims will not only celebrate the end of fasting on Eid al-Fitr, but will also give thanks for the help and strength that they were given throughout the month of Ramadan.
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Eid al-Adha is also known as the festival of the sacrifice.? It is a three-day celebration that commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to Allah.? Just when Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.? On the morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims gather to perform Eid prayers in congregation. ?The celebration is also marked with feasts, giving donations to those in need, and sharing the meat of a sacrificed animal equally with family, friends, and the poor and needy.? Eid al-Adha falls during the twelfth and final month of the lunar Islamic calendar?the exact date is dependent on the sighting of the moon.? It is known to coincide with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.? Millions of Muslims from across the world make the journey to Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.? Mecca is considered the holiest site in the religion of Islam and is where the religion of Islam started.? It is where the Prophet Muhammad was born and received the first revelations from God.? Many believe Eid al-Adha to be one of the most important holidays in the religion of Islam.
The first day of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, also known as Eid al-Fitr, is designated as a legislatively recognized day.
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The tenth day of the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, also known as Eid al-Adha, is designated as a? legislatively recognized day.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are removed as a paid state legal holidays, instead making them legislatively recognized days.
(In support) The new bill language does not ask for any additional paid state holidays.? It merely asks for legislatively recognized days.? These holidays are central to the Muslim faith, values, and community and represents time for spiritual reflection, family connection, and community unity.? There are over 100,000 Muslim Washingtonians, over 3 million Muslim Americans, and nearly 2 billion Muslims across the world.
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Students learn about the importance of other religious holidays like Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanza in school.? There are celebrations around these holidays which make it feel like a festive time and provides a moment of unity for all children to celebrate together.? However, the same feeling of festivity and the same acknowledgment is not felt for Muslims when they celebrate two of the major holidays of their religion?Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.? Students have expressed that being taught about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in school has had a positive impact on their school experience when they otherwise usually find themselves hiding or suppressing their Muslim identity.? More recognition around these holidays will help those students feel more safe, accepted, and respected.? Making these days a holiday would give them the same level of recognition as some of the other holidays that celebrate days of cultural significance like Lunar New Year and would ensure that the Muslim community can practice their constitutional freedom as Americans to celebrate and practice their faith free of fear and judgment.??
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Inclusion is not just about representation; it is about mutual respect and understanding.? Recognizing these holidays is a statement of inclusion and acknowledges the diverse cultural landscape of society and represents the tolerance of all religions and people.? Muslims have been part of the fabric of America since 1528.? The Muslim community continues to contribute greatly to society and the economy; recognizing these holidays would reflect appreciation of those contributions.
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The Middle East is often associated with conflict and political unrest which shapes how Muslims are perceived in western culture.? As a result, Muslims have often been the target of hate crimes.? More than 50 percent of Muslim students have faced bullying and has historically been othered.? The legislative recognition of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha would be a testament to the progress Washington has made towards creating a state where every individual is seen, valued, and heard.? It will help society see beyond the negative narrative and recognize the humanity and resilience of the Muslim community.
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During Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, schools in areas that serve large Muslim communities see the impact these holidays have on school attendance.? Many students are absent from school to honor their religious obligations.? Some schools will consider these holidays when planning tests or other events.? Some schools will not take these holidays into consideration and some students have had to choose between attending graduation and honoring their religious obligations.? Schools in Michigan have lost funding because many students would not attend school during these holidays.? Schools currently build their?calendars around Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, and recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha will raise awareness among school administrators who can make changes to ensure that Muslim students can fully participate in their religious freedom without compromising personal and educational responsibilities.? Several school districts across the country in New York, Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, Minneapolis, Ohio, and California have already taken steps to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as a holiday. ?Beyond schools, workers are at times not able to exercise their freedom of religion in a way they choose because they are not given the time off work to observe Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha because these have not been recognized as being a holiday.? Recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha will raise awareness among employers which will help ensure that Muslims can fully participate in their religious freedom without compromising personal and professional responsibilities.
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(Opposed) None.
Representative Osman Salahuddin, prime sponsor; Ahmad Tirhi; Sarah Karim; Aya Samman; Syeda Asad; Amna Qazi; Heba Qatrani, President of South Seattle College Muslim Student Association; Waseem Munir, Dawah Coordinator, Bellevue College Muslim Student Association; Rachida Hill, Uplift Dawah; Basma Faraj; Sobia Sheikh; Hira Niaz; Samia El-Moslimany; Yashar Shayan; Fadil Gucci; Noor Arwani; Alaa Alshaibani; Adriana Mohamed, MAPZ Snohomish County; Syeda Shakil; Syeda Shakil; Mehreen Nadeem; and Noor Shaikh, Sammamish Muslim Association.
More than 20 persons signed in. Please contact the House Public Records Office at https://leg.wa.gov/public-records-requests/ or call (360) 786-0926.