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Rabat – Ahead of Ramadan, Minneapolis city introduced inclusive measures in favor of its Muslim population.
On March 24, the Minneapolis Mayor and City Council officially recognized the holy month of Ramadan, laying the ground for the public broadcast of the call to prayer (Adhan) and the adoption of Eid al-Fitr as a religious holiday by Minneapolis public schools.
Copy of the resolution shared on Twitter by Minneapolis Council member Jamal Osman
Today, mosques across the city can play the call to prayer – like church bells- between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. “The call should be no louder than 15 decibels than the outside noise off the property,” explained Minneapolis Council member Jamal Osman.
The Muslim community in Minneapolis welcomed the inclusive changes.
The Imam of An-Nur mosque in Minneapolis, Imam Makram Nu’man El-Amin, talked about the new changes in an interview with NPR.
“I’m feeling excited. These are, you know, historical milestones for the Muslim community here in Minneapolis and Minnesota in general,” he said.
Read Also: Diversity Sets the Table for American Muslims Observing Ramadan
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the mosques in the city do not operate at full capacity, noted the Imam. But the recent decline in COVID cases provides an opportunity for the city’s Muslim community to gather to break fast and pray together.
To restore the tradition of communal iftars, An-Nur mosque has adopted a “hybrid model” for this year’s Ramadan.
“We’re going to have some seating, but not to the degree we’ve had it before … just to have people get into the feeling and the spirit of it as much as we can,” the Imam explained.
The Muslim community in Minnesota state is estimated at roughly 200,000, with a large portion living in surrounding suburbs.
“Minneapolis has become home to one of the largest populations of Somali and East Africans in the nation, and their Muslims faith is welcomed here,” the city’s Mayor and City Council said in its resolution.
