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Illinois officials offer best wishes to Muslim community at end of Ramadan

By Ray Hanania

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, and several officials including from Cook County, the State of Illinois and from officials of the Orland Fire Protection District offered their best wishes to the Muslim American community as they prepared to conclude Ramadan and celebrate the Eid El Fitr holiday that began Early Sunday morning (March 30, 2025).

Eid El Fitr marks the end of the month-long, dusk-to-dawn fasting that devote Muslims offer as a part of their religion, Islam.

It is the holiest month of the year for Muslims around the world.

“I want to extend my heartfelt greetings to all of our Muslim neighbors as you celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid El Fitr as you approach the end of Ramadan,” Pappas said in a video podcast released Saturday night.

“I’m inspired by the incredible contributions of the Muslim community to Cook County. Your commitment to faith, family and service enriches our country in so many ways. As you gather with loved ones to celebrate the blessings of Eid, may your hearts be filled with joy, your homes with peace, and your lives with prosperity. On behalf of my office, Eid Mubarak.”

Click this link to view the video from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, or view the Youtube video using the widget below

Congresswoman Ramirez also recorded a video greeting to Muslims for Eid El Fitr.

“I want to extend my heartfelt greetings to all our Muslim neighbors, brothers and sisters, as you celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid El Fitr. As you approach the end of Ramadan, may. May this holiest of months be a reminder of the power of our prayers, of our faith and our devotion,” Rameriz said.

“As you gather with your loved ones to celebrate the blessing of Eid, may this celebration be one of life, one of communities, and a reminder of our shared humanity, our hope for a shared future, and the pursuit of justice and peace. I’m honored to stand with the Muslim community in Illinois 3^rd Congressional District, our nation, and all around the world. And on behalf of my office, Eid Mubarak.”

Click this link to view Congresswoman Ramirez’s Ramadan greeting, or use the YouTube widget below.

Also offering his greetings was Hassan Nijem, president of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce.

Nijem has been a blessing to the Arab and Muslim community working towards understanding, collaboration and networking to support peace and justice for everyone.

“I wish the Arab and Muslim community a blessed Eid Mubarak to commemorate the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan,” Nijem said.

“I wish peace around the world and in the Middle East, for all people for Eid El Fitr.”

Also offering greetings, Eid Mubarak for the end of Ramadan Greetings, is Orland Fire Protection District Trustee Beth Damas Kaspar, OFPD Commissioner Donald “DJ” Jeffers, and former Palos Heights CSO Bridget Eileen Tolan.

“My name is Beth Damas Kaspar, a trustee at the Orland Fire Protection District. I want to wish Eid Mubarak and blessings to all of our Muslim neighbors on behalf of myself, Fire District Commissioner Donald “DJ” Jeffers, and our running mate Bridget Tolan, as you celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid El Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. We are so proud that under our leadership, we hired the very first Arab Muslim firefighter at the Fire District, something that was a long time in coming,” Damas Kaspar said.

“As you gather with your loved ones to celebrate the blessing of the Eid, may this celebration be one of life, one of communities, and a reminder of our shared humanity, our hope for a shared future, and the pursuit of justice and peace.”

Damas Kaspar added, “Again, Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim neighbors and friends on behalf of myself, Beth Damas Kaspar, Orland Fire Commissioner Donald “DJ” Jeffers and former Palos Heights CSO Bridget Tolan … We are honored to stand with the Muslim community in the Orland Fire Protection District and proud to have helped shatter a ceiling to hire the first Muslim firefighter.”

Ramadan officially ends Sunday morning in the Chicagoland region.

Eid El-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. The other is Eid El-Adha. Eid El Fitr falls on the first day of Shawaal, the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar. Eid El-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long, dusk-to-dawn, fasting (sawm) of Ramadan.

For more columns and articles from Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com.

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

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