Muslim families and students within the Commack community and all around the world celebrated the holiday of Eid-Al-Fitr on Friday, April 21.

Eid-Al-Fitr is a significant holiday for Muslims all over the world. The holiday marks the end of Ramadan, a month-long period of fasting, prayer, and reflection. During Eid, Muslims come together to celebrate with family and friends, exchange gifts, and share a meal.

“The purpose of Eid-Al-Fitr is to celebrate your completion of fasting for Ramadan. It is to celebrate your hard work and for people to realize how grateful they must be for all the things they have access to. Every year it is an eye opening experience that allows people to realize how blessed they truly are and how to be appreciative,” said freshman Mariam B.

For the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, the Commack School District has officially announced Eid-Al-Fitr as a school holiday in which students will have the day off.

“Muslim students have tried to officially be granted the day off for several years but we were always denied the opportunity. This year is when big changes finally started to happen due to a group chat that included Muslim moms from the district. A list was created which was meant to serve as a petition and it was sent within the group chat. The moms were told to put their kids’ names down and any other Muslim households in the district that they know of. When they reached their goal, they took it up with the board during one of the meetings and it was finally taken into consideration,” said junior Safiyah O.

For Muslim students, having Eid off is about much more than being able to fully participate in such a significant holiday. It is about recognition, appreciation, and understanding towards the value of Islamic beliefs.

“I remember in middle school I was so scared of telling people what holiday I celebrated because they would always question and make fun of me. I feel like in the more recent years, people have become more accepting. Having Eid off really shows diversity and that people do care. It proves that your voice does matter and to never give up,” said Safiyah O.

There is a lot of appreciation towards receiving the holiday off for Muslim community members. Specifically for students, they are grateful for the reduction of stress and workload.

“Having Eid off will let me relax and enjoy my holiday without having the stress of having to makeup school work and also exams. I can freely spend time with my family and enjoy the blessings of Ramadan and Eid-Al-Fitr,” said Mariam B.

More requests such as an Islamic prayer room and hall passes for students to be able to exit class and pray have been made to accommodate Muslim students.

“I would love to see more accommodations for Muslim students who are fasting during Ramadan; [such as] a pass to go to the library during their physical education and lunch periods would be appreciative. Also, I would love for there to be a prayer room for us, which hopefully will be happening next year,” said junior Aayan K.

Commack has grown exponentially throughout these last few years in aiding Muslim students to feel more welcomed. 

“Having Eid off not only is significant because of the fact that us Muslims are finally being seen in Commack, but also because future Muslim students will be able to learn in an environment where they feel welcomed. I’m just super glad that us Muslims are finally being recognized and respected, and it shows how far our schools have grown,” said Aayan K.🔳