ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Islamic Center of Rochester held five separate prayer services Thursday morning for local Muslims to safely celebrate the religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr. However, as Muslims across the world come together, there are mixed emotions and a lot to pray for as the pandemic continues and violence goes on in Israel.
In past years, before the pandemic, about 4,000 Muslims from the Rochester area would celebrate Eid Al-Fitr at the Dome Arena in Henrietta. Due to COVID-19 last year, the service was completely remote. This year, prayer services and celebrations are not back to normal yet, but Abu Islam, the vice-chair of the Islamic Center of Rochester's Council of Trustees, said it is getting there.
"I remember last year only the clergy was here and he was broadcasting over Facebook," said Islam, "and we were all in our living room following him and compared to that, just being able to come here and meet the community is a blessing by itself."
For University of Rochester students Klotoum Kromah, whose family is in Guinea and New Jersey, Aisha Toure, whose family is in Mali, and Hanyia Ahned, whose family is in Pakistan, this service makes them feel a little closer to home.
"I was really isolated last time," said Kromah. "It felt like I needed to protect myself, stay isolated...but it feels good to be back. It feels good to be around people. Share the same joy at the same time. Love, be around so much love."
This year, those attending said being around love and prayer is even more necessary. They are praying for everyone's health during this pandemic, and for those in the Middle East as tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians continue to escalate.
"People are suffering in the war," said Islam. "Innocent people are dying. That also makes us sad. So with all of that happening that makes our celebration a little dim, but still we'll try our best."
"We want to bring an end to this suffering," said Ahned.
"It's definitely heartbreaking, but I think the only thing we can do at this point is pray for them," said Toure.
"I'm lucky enough to be here. To be able to pray, to be able to hang around my friends, and some of them don't have that opportunity today," said Kromah.
About 300 people, spaced out six feet apart, inside and outside the Islamic Center, participated in each of the five prayer sessions Thursday.