Action-Alerts

Muslim Holidays in the USA: Sign the Petition

Published

January 14, 2014

Sumayyah McTaggart, a confident homeschooled eighth grader, from Great Falls, VA along with her friend Iman Hazer of Dunn-Loring, VA take civics classes at Compass Homeschooling Enrichment in Oakton, VA. Fatimah Dandashi of Falls Church, VA, a seventh grader also has classes with the same civics teacher, Leila Leoncavallo.

Assigned a class project, two weeks ago, to petition the government about an issue that they were passionate about, the three formed a petition on the White House website. Inspired by the Montgomery County Equality4Eid campaign and concerned about attending class on Eid day, the three friends decided to address the issue of recognizing Eid day on the calendar.

“We knew each other from the masjid. I used to attend the masjid that Fatima currently attends. We all ended up in the same civic class and petitioned the government to recognize our holidays in public school,” said McTaggart to the Muslim Link. Meeting at the public library, it took Hazer and McTaggart a few hours to put the petition together. Dandashi approached the paper for publicity to spread the word about their petition so they can collect the 100,000 signatures needed, before the January 16, 2014 deadline. Hazer is reaching out to interfaith coalitions.

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

“This year Eid Al-Adha. was on the day of science class, and I did have to go to school on Eid,” says the homeschooler, ”it was very upsetting, missing Eid prayer. I love hearing the khutbah and was upset [I had to go to school].” Fatima Dandashi has also faced the same dilemma- school on Eid day.

“We would hope that White House responds. We would all like to request Fairfax County to recognize Eid as a public holiday. We would like them to take the day off. The White House petition is an effort for publicity, to show the Fairfax county board of education how many people support the idea,” says McTaggart. Anybody who is religious would understand that struggle; they will receive our support if they have an issue, if [they] support us,” says McTaggart, wise beyond her years. The 13 year old loves to play soccer and plays for the Great Falls Soccer Club. She hopes that by the time her siblings are old enough for school they do not have to go to school on Eid day.

“The population of Muslims growing and it is not fair to have to choose between education and honoring your religious obligations,” she says.

The girls write that “our First Amendment not only forbids the favoring of one or more religions over others it also ensures that the government cannot restrict the free practice of religion. Muslims being required to attend school on Eid violates both.”

Their teacher thought it was one of the best causes that anyone had come up with and fully supports them. If you do too then show your support by signing the petition by January 16 at http://wh.gov/l8f51.

Update: The petition is currently at 32,000 signatures. Please help them get to the 100,000 goal by tonight, Jan 16th, 2014. Since posting this anti-Muslim hate sites have linked to my news article, originally published in the Muslim Link. Masajid listservs have become active and have been urging congregates to sign the petition. Several media outlets have also reached out to cover the story.

Aren’t you super proud of our Muslim youth?

0 Shares

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

Up Next

Second Chance: Causes and Lessons from Divorce in Muslims

Don't Miss

Facebook Scam Alert: Fake “Shaykh Yasir Qadhi” Exposed!

Hena Zuberi

Hena Zuberi is the Editor in Chief of Muslimmatters.org. She leads the DC office of the human rights organization, Justice For All, focusing on stopping the genocide of the Rohingya under Burma Task Force, advocacy for the Uighur people with the Save Uighur Campaign and Free Kashmir Action. She was a Staff Reporter at the Muslim Link newspaper which serves the DC Metro. Hena has worked as a television news reporter and producer for CNBC Asia and World Television News. Active in her SoCal community, Hena served as the Youth Director for the Unity Center. Using her experience with Youth, she conducts Growing Up With God workshops. hena.z@muslimmatters.org Follow her on Twitter @henazuberi.

56 Comments

Taj Zekria

January 14, 2014 at 10:24 PM

Yes there should be days off for Muslim holidays for Muslim people

Reply
Mervat Galal

January 14, 2014 at 10:35 PM

Yes Muslim people have to get days holiday off

Reply
- fatimata sakanoko
  
  January 16, 2014 at 11:06 PM
  
  We request the muslim holidays off .
  
  Reply
Dzafar

January 14, 2014 at 11:08 PM

Hopefully this will make us all respect each others rituals. & belief. Also would be nice if we have prayer places in important places specially at airports.

Reply
Farhan

January 15, 2014 at 3:25 AM

Muslims have right to get their demand and they deserve to get holidays on the occasion of Holy Eid in each place

Reply
IRENA BINTI IDRIS

January 15, 2014 at 3:57 AM

Eid ul Fitri and Eid ul Adha are happy celebrations just like Christmas Passover or the New Year. I think it is only fair to allow Muslims to celebrate it like other religions. Islam is practiced all over the world and it is only fair for our Muslim brothers and sisters in the US to enjoy it too. Pray and ask help from Allah swt for this gift. Trust in the will of Allah. Love and hugs from a sister across the miles in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

Reply
Basmah

January 15, 2014 at 4:13 AM

Oh no.they need 60,000 more signatures . Only 2 days left
Why didn’t I hear about this earlier :(

If each one of us spreads this message and gets atleast 10 from our acquaintances , I think we could reach the target inshAllah.

JazakumAllah khair sisters!

Reply
Vicki

January 15, 2014 at 2:14 PM

I am neither Muslim nor Christian, but I believe that under our Constitution everyone’s religious preferences and thus holidays granted by governments, including at least public schools, should grant religious holidays equally to all faiths. If there are already “too many holidays” given during the school year, then we should decide whether we should cut back on other non-religious observances instead. Many people do not observe Memorial Day and/or Veterans Day as they used to years ago, but rather use them as “free vacation days” to head to the beach, etc. with no honoring of those persons that sacrificed themselves for our freedoms. Additionally, Columbus Day is observed by some government organizations though not others. Perhaps we should consider trading these holidays, and possibly also New Years Day, in order to be consistent with the “new reality” that the United States is no longer a “Christian only” country. I signed the petition!!!!

Reply
Rania hamdy

January 15, 2014 at 5:57 PM

Yes Muslim people should be off on holidays to celebrate like other religion

Reply
Md Rustom Ali

January 15, 2014 at 10:24 PM

I need holiday

Reply
- Nasteho Hassan
  
  December 12, 2015 at 11:48 AM
  
  Yes we need day off for our holidays
  
  Reply
MAHAMADOU DIAKITE

January 15, 2014 at 10:52 PM

YES I NEED HOLIDAY MUSLIM IN US A

Reply
Hoda

January 15, 2014 at 10:56 PM

Thank you Vicki

Reply
mamady kebe

January 15, 2014 at 10:59 PM

i belive we need hoilday day off because all religion they have so

Reply
alieu bah

January 16, 2014 at 7:02 AM

i agree with you

Reply
boubakar traore

January 16, 2014 at 12:14 PM

It s a good idea to support that case so we all muslim can get day off in our holidays.

Reply
mamadu barrie

January 16, 2014 at 1:09 PM

Is a Freedom country, finally islam religion have there holidays on the board as other religion.

Reply
Mashal Siddiqui

January 16, 2014 at 2:22 PM

There should be a day off for Muslim Holidays

Reply
imani k gavin

January 16, 2014 at 4:03 PM

Salaam walakum
Its really sad that we Muslims been fighting for our holiday which is rightfully ours, you have Christmas, passove, easter, And you are against ours , I don’t understand why this is the most holiest days for us, When our children need to be able to celebrate their religious beliefs like every one else. AS A MUSLIM COMMUNITY COMMUNITY WE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT FOR OUR MISSION TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR OWN HOLIDAY! !!

Reply
Ange

January 16, 2014 at 4:49 PM

Why would we consider celebrating Muslim holidays in the United States when Christian holidays aren’t celebrated in the middle east? Stop persecuting Christians before you ask us to celebrate your holidays…..

Reply
- BIM
  
  January 16, 2014 at 6:37 PM
  
  Yeah…that’s not how law works in the USA.
  
  Reply
- Atif A.
  
  July 28, 2014 at 10:28 AM
  
  Christmas is celebrated in Pakistan.
  
  Reply
Ange

January 16, 2014 at 7:32 PM

Maybe not, but do you really think it’s fair for Muslims to disregard other faiths and then ask for their holidays to be recognized? THAT is NOT how it works as far as I’m concerned.

Reply
tieba

January 16, 2014 at 9:25 PM

IT IS ABOUT TIME WITH OVER 9 MILLION MUSLIM, “MORE THAN JEW’, THAT WE HAVE RECOGNITION AND HOLIDAY AT STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. WE ONLY NEED TWO: EID AL FITR AND EID AL ADA.

Reply
Sally Magas

January 16, 2014 at 9:31 PM

May Allah help us Amine!!!!

Reply
Asif Husain

January 17, 2014 at 5:10 AM

Yes, surely, Muslims should be given their holdays. Atleast Eiful Fitr and Eidul Azha should be declared holidays.
All the Muslims across globe support this.

Reply
Moustapha Meite

January 17, 2014 at 7:24 AM

i want holidays for muslim in usa thank’s

Reply
Mangbe meite

January 17, 2014 at 7:36 AM

It would be nice to have this holiday for some of the students that don’t celebrate different holidays. Thank you.

Reply
mamadou Diallo

January 17, 2014 at 7:40 AM

It is very nice to have that every that help for this one love god bless Amen

Reply
issiaka samassi

January 17, 2014 at 10:44 AM

I’m very happy for a holidays muslim

Reply
kamara mamadou

January 17, 2014 at 10:51 AM

My daughter and i are very happy for the muslim holiday

Reply
Ladji Samassi

January 17, 2014 at 10:54 AM

i am very glad muslim are getting there own holiday

Reply
Namory Meite

January 17, 2014 at 10:56 AM

i’m happy that muslim are getting a holiday

Reply
Ladji Meite

January 17, 2014 at 10:59 AM

Allah we are having our own holiday amen thank you USA

Reply
Diakite Mahadiyou

January 17, 2014 at 11:43 AM

Finally muslims have there own holiday

Reply
Mamadou kouyate

January 17, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Thank Allah that muslims are having there own holiday

Reply
Adama Fofana

January 17, 2014 at 11:47 AM

They should really make a muslim holiday

Reply
Yacou Karamoko

January 17, 2014 at 11:48 AM

muslim holiday on the go

Reply
BO

January 17, 2014 at 2:59 PM

Alahoo AKBAR allah is great

Reply
traore bohi

January 17, 2014 at 3:03 PM

allah is great allah is beautiful

Reply
aminata kone

January 17, 2014 at 3:08 PM

allah is great allah is beautiful

Reply
Ibrahim Kone

January 18, 2014 at 8:43 AM

Allah Allah Allah only him. we love him .

Reply
Ameda Lima

January 18, 2014 at 8:44 AM

Be fair to Muslims and let us celebrate our holidays.

Reply
M zaini

January 20, 2014 at 9:29 PM

Please make it is this fair for muslim in the USA and thank you every body for supporting us.

Reply
F Momin

January 21, 2014 at 7:02 PM

Finally, there is a petition to recognize Islamic holidays nationwide! There is a need for 100,000 signatures… we haven’t even hit the 7,000 mark yet. All signatures are due February 15th, 2014. Please make an account and sign both petitions. It will take only a few minutes of your time. Insha’Allah, everything will work out in time.

Sign both of the following petitions:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/recognize-muslim-holidays-throughout-school-year/x1DqFc2t

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/support-movement-having-muslim-holidays-recognized-school-year-throughout-united-states-america/hXwCfYPc

And forward these links to any and everybody who will sign it.

*Name has been changed to comply to our Comments Policy*

Reply
Faruqe Ahmed

January 24, 2014 at 7:41 PM

thanks to the USA to recognized Muslim holidays.

Reply
MAHIR KHIDIR ABBAS

February 6, 2014 at 11:04 PM

Allah Akbar yes for muslim get holiday off

Reply
sally

February 9, 2014 at 6:07 PM

I want muslim holidays off

Reply
abdul kadir saleem

February 13, 2014 at 7:16 PM

Thank you sisters and brothers or supporting Muslim holiday in tae U.S.A. My wife and myself this petition happily .

Reply
abdul kadir saleem

February 13, 2014 at 7:30 PM

May Allah bless all people including Muslims in America . I support the petition with my family.

Reply
fatemah siby

February 16, 2014 at 11:22 PM

I support this petition with my entire family

Reply
Abdul Rahman

March 8, 2014 at 10:11 PM

I support the Muslim Holiday

Reply
Melissa Acan

September 22, 2015 at 9:36 AM

Everyone has the right to be off work and school on their religion holidays. I suggest US government provides this freedom to all of their citizens.

Reply
Sabir saidwal

October 28, 2015 at 12:32 PM

I support this petition.

Reply
Pingback: Muslim Holidays 2014 Calendar – Get Calendar
Amin

December 18, 2016 at 7:14 PM

We owr those Brothers and Sisters defending our freedom of religion a debt those who founded this nation would appreasiate no less.

Reply