Islamic Foundation Interfaith & Outreach Committee

04/01/2025

🌟 Eid al-Fitr: A Celebration of Gratitude, Unity, and Global Compassion 🌙✨

As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan’s spiritual journey, here’s a reflection on its profound meaning and how its lessons of empathy resonate in times of global hardship:

The 3 Days of Eid al-Fitr

Day 1: Gratitude and Renewal:
- Muslims begin with *Fajr* prayers, followed by communal Eid prayers and the giving of **Zakat al-Fitr**—a charity to ensure even the poorest can celebrate.
- Families gather for festive meals, symbolizing gratitude for Ramadan’s blessings and spiritual growth.

Day 2: Community and Connection:
- Visiting loved ones, exchanging gifts, and reconciling strained relationships.
- A day to strengthen bonds and reflect on Ramadan’s teachings of patience and empathy.

Day 3: Joy and Sustained Charity:
- Continued celebrations and acts of kindness (*Sadaqah*), emphasizing that generosity extends beyond Ramadan.
- A reminder to carry the month’s values forward—compassion, humility, and justice.

Eid al-Fitr teaches us that true joy lies in gratitude *and* action.

Let’s channel its spirit to stand with the marginalized, reject apathy, and build a world where everyone experiences the dignity of peace.

Eid Mubarak! May this blessed celebration ignite hope and solidarity. 🌙💖

01/02/2025

The Interfaith and Outreach Committee of the Islamic Foundation is deeply saddened and outraged by the horrific attack that occurred early this morning on Bourbon Street in New Orleans as families celebrated the new year.

This horrific act of violence has claimed multiple lives and injured many others, leaving families and communities in profound grief.

We unequivocally condemn this act and stand in solidarity with the victims, their families, and the people of New Orleans during this difficult time. We thank law enforcement for intervening to end the assault and we urge authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to ensure that anyone else involved in the attack is brought to justice.

While details about the assailant and their motives are still emerging, we emphasize the importance of refraining from speculation and remaining united against all forms of violence. In this time of mourning, we call on communities to come together in compassion and understanding.

Let us honor the memory of the victims by fostering a society rooted in peace and mutual security.

- The IFIOC

06/29/2023

There are two key Eid /Celebration Festivals in Islam:

Eid al-Fiṭr - which signifies the completion of the Holy Month of Ramaḍhān
&
Eid al-Aḍḥā - the greater Eid which follows the completion of the annual Ḥājj pilgrimage, at the time of Qurbani (sacrifice)

Regardless of your faith, I hope you will join in this time of happiness for members of our joint global family

We are here together and interconnected in more ways than are visible

Peace and prosperity to all ✨🕋🎊

04/22/2023

Eid al-Fiṭr Mubarak to our friends who celebrate ✨🌙💫

This was the second year in a row Ramaḍhān, Passover and Easter Sunday occurred during the same weekend.

Typically, this event happens three times a century or once every 33 years.

The coincidence of these events happening around the same time is a rare and wonderful opportunity for people of different faiths to bridge and come together to celebrate our shared values of hope, renewal, and compassion!

04/07/2023

Ramadan greetings … feline edition.

04/06/2023

Friends -

Happy Ramadan to our Muslim friends 🌙

Happy Passover to our Jewish friends ✡️

Happy Easter to our Christian friends 🐣

Happy Vaisakhi to our Sikh friends ❤️

Happy Hanuman Jayanti to our Hindu friends 🌝

Happy Mahavir Jayanti to our Jain friends ☮️

Happy Days to our secular friends 😊

Wishing a blessed season to all our friends of faith 🙏🏼

11/19/2022

This morning we welcomed back friends of faith into our Mosque to reconvene our traditional Friendsgiving Interfaith Breakfast after a 3 year hiatus!

Giving Thanks & Gratitude for continued dialogue, camaraderie, good will and building bridges with one another {in shaa’Allāh - God willing} 🍂🍁🍃✨

10/23/2022

Diwali, the Festival of Lights offers time for both reflection and celebration. Let the spirit of this festival illuminate your days and path! A very blessed Diwali to all celebrating around the world. May we continue to enlighten and impact each other’s lives through intellect, kindness and generosity! ✨

09/25/2022

Wishing all our friends and family celebrating Rosh Hashanah, A Very Happy and Sweet New Year!

During the two day celebration (25th - 27th September, 2022) Jewish communities around the world celebrate by attending synagogues, eating pomegranates / apples & honey (meant to usher in a sweet new year), eating challah (a braided bread in a round loaf to represent the cycle of the year) and having other symbolic foods that represent what they're hoping for in the coming year.

Shanah Tova to all who celebrate!

07/08/2022

Eid Mubarak from us to you!

This Eid day we wish you blessings of peace and share with you the story of the Feast of the Sacrifice, a story with common roots in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

04/17/2022

As we end the weekend, it’s nice to think about how many people across the world gathered to celebrate Ramaḍhān, Passover, or Easter with family, friends, and loved ones.

Spring is an awakening and time for renewal - May the faiths across borders and here at home rejoice in peace, harmony and good will.

If you are celebrating any of the above…
mid-Ramaḍhān Mubarak!
Chag Sameach!
Happy Easter!

04/14/2022

Once every 33 years, Ramaḍhān, Passover and Easter are observed simultaneously.

While each of these holidays has different religious significance to their practitioners, they all serve as a reminder to the followers of each religion of their commitment to their faith and to God as they worship. It is a time for people of each religion to become renewed in their faith, a theme that aligns with the spring season in which each holiday takes place.

Wishing our friends a blessed holiday with their loved ones, peace & good will!

May this be the week that changes the world. It is Holy Week for Christians, Ramadan for Muslims, and Passover for Jews. Tell me you cannot see the value in Pope Francis’ words. God bless you all. Enjoy your journey. Picture taken at Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Westwego) in New Orleans.