Muslims end Ramadan today

Muslims in Merced will celebrate the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, with the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, today.

Monir Ahmed, faculty adviser for the Muslim Student Association at UC Merced, said there will be two Eid prayers for the community, one at the Islamic Center of Merced and a smaller service at Lake Yosemite.

Muslims observe Eid by going to one another's houses and celebrating with food, family, friends and neighbors, according to Ahmed.

"So Eid means a really happy day," he explained. "A typical morning starts with the prayer, and then the rest of the day is visiting families, neighbors, exchanging cards. There are some cultural variations, but the religious part of it is there is a prayer, followed by a sermon."

Imam Yasin Alabbadi, who has been living in Merced for the past eight years, said Eid-ul-Fitr is one of two holidays for Muslims. The other, Eid-ul-Adha, occurs after the pilgrimage to Mecca -- one of the mainstays in the Muslim religion. He is the Imam for the Islamic Center of Merced.

About 200 to 300 worshippers are expected at the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in the morning at the center on Ashby Road, according to Alabbadi. Ahmed said he expects about 70 to 80 people at the lake service.

There will also be a community potluck picnic for families and UC Merced students that will go until late in the afternoon at the lake.

The lake is within walking distance for the students, allowing them to "join for prayer and then at least not worry about food for one day," Ahmed said.

"We are having it there to get it closer to the university," he said. "But at the same time we also will have a picnic there so that families can come and go easily," he said.

During Ramadan, Alabbadi, who is Yemeni, said the mosque hosted 20 to 30 people nightly for the iftar -- or breaking of the fast -- and evening prayers.

Reporter Ameera Butt can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or abutt@mercedsun-star.com.