MPR’s Jae Bryson reports on local Muslims arriving at St. Paul's RiverCentre for Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr. The prayers and feasts of Eid al-Fitr mark the end of Ramadan, the month-long period of fasting and material deprivation. Organizers say the event, one of two Muslim High Holy Days, attracted more than 10,000 people.
JAE BRYSON: Thousands of Muslims arrived at Saint Paul's RiverCentre for an Islamic holiday called Eid al-Fitr. The prayers and feast of Eid al-Fitr marked the end of Ramadan, the month-long period of fasting and material deprivation. Organizers say the event, one of two Muslim high holy days, attracted more than 10,000 people. Imam Hassan of the At-Taqwa Mosque in Saint Paul says that number represents just a fraction of the total of Muslims in the state.
IMAM HASSAN: Right now, we can estimate around-- in Minnesota, we say around 100,000 Muslims. But in Twin Cities, we can say around 70,000 Muslims in Twin Cities.
LISA HADER: This is quite big, yes. It's the biggest one I've seen so far.
JAE BRYSON: Lisa Hader of Minnetonka was among the worshippers kneeling on cardboard, overcoats, blankets, towels, and ornate prayer rugs. The term Muslim, like Christian or Jew, encompasses a wide range of sects, including Shiite and Sunni. Hader, who has observed Eid al-Fitr for 12 years, says the similarities matter more than the differences on the holy day.
LISA HADER: It is a time when Muslims can get together from all over. It's a coming together of all the nations and nationalities, and a time to celebrate.
JAE BRYSON: Estimates of the Muslim population in Minnesota are based largely on anecdotal evidence. Governmental agencies do not conduct official counts of religious affiliation. Yet there's little doubt Muslim numbers are growing in Minnesota.
An influx of Somalis to Minnesota has been part of the increase to the local Muslim population. The State Demographic Office estimates that 6,000 Somalis, who represent half of the nation's total, live in Minnesota. Most Somalis are Sunni Muslims. Though there has been friction between the larger Sunni group and a smaller Shiite group, that has not seemed to be the case in Minnesota.
ABDUL KAREEM BILAL: This is what prayer is all about. This is what worship is all about. To worship Almighty God in truth and spirit. Not to be bickering each other.
JAE BRYSON: That was Abdul Kareem Bilal of Minneapolis, one of the 10,000 Eid al-Fitr event attendees. I'm Jae Bryson, Minnesota Public Radio.
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