Muslim NYers on celebrating Ramadan during times of constitutional crisis

Despite political unrest sowing seeds of fear in New York City and overseas, Muslim communities are determined to continue observing their holiest month of Ramadan.

- ARIAMA C. LONG

This year's Ramadan, a month-long period where participants fast from dawn to sunset, and Eid al-Fitr — a grand holiday celebrated on the Islamic lunar calendar at the close of the fasting month — will fall on March 29-30.

"This is a time to pray and fast for peace and understanding. In principle, we all have to be hopeful for clarity and safety, Muslim or not Muslim alike," said Harlem Senator Cordell Cleare. "We know that our communities respect this period of spiritual upliftment."

In the last two years, the city's vastly diverse Muslim community had been struggling to accommodate an influx of migrants and asylum seekers. Newly arrived Muslims from north east and west regions in Africa were finding it hard to access Halal food, especially those living in shelters, and observe Ramadan properly.

"I knew growing up it was tough for me because in my community I was part of that first generation of young West African Americans in that neighborhood," said Husein Yatabarry, executive director of the Muslim Community Network (MCN), who is a Bronx native of Gambian descent. "I don't even think that they really understood what Eid was. I think there is a lot more acknowledgement and understanding [now]."

Yataberry said that despite the growing commercialism in relation to Ramadan and Eid, with decorations and toy distributions in schools and at mosques, there's definitely still difficulty in providing Halal meals to Muslim communities in need. MCN recently partnered with City Comptroller Brad Lander, a mayoral candidate this year, Islamic Relief USA, and five local organizations to distribute over 12,000 boxed dinners for “Iftar” during Ramadan. Places the city can't get to, nonprofits fill the gap, said Yataberry.