Youth Officer Mustapha Ali at the Jamma Masjid, Queen and Piccadilly Streets, Port-of-Spain, says there is a wave of happiness across the Muslim community since Eid-Ul-Fitr holiday falls on jumma. Friday is jumma or Sabbath. On the eve of Eid, Ali said: "Today is a blessed day in the name of Allah. It is a day Allah blessed like any other.
"It is the day to mark Eid-ul-Fitr in the morning. In the evening, there is jumma. Today is a double celebration." Before Eid-ul-Fitr, Ali and 500 members of the mosque spent the period of Ramadan in fasting, praying, feeding the poor and visiting the sick. The azlan issued the call to prayer around 4:30 am in the mosque which is reputed to be 65 years old. Quizzed on their message to the national community, Ali said: "It is about the kindness in Islam. Islam is for peace. Islam is not about war."
He said: "We pray. We beg Allah for another Ramadan (enchallah). We hug each other. We greet each other. We know it is an auspicious time for all Muslims." In the afternoon, Ali said: "We have jumma from 12:25 to 12:35 pm today. Every Friday is our jumma... our Sabbath. "We have more eats like Creole food and curried dishes. We have ice cream. Children get toys. We enjoy ourselves with each other."
Beehive of religious activity
Donning their taaj, the men strolled into the mosque to get ready for prayer. Some of them wore prayer beads. Before doing so, they added their footwear to an ever- increasing stack outside the entrance. Soon, it was time to break the fast. Like clockwork, plastic plates, stacked with potato pies and mango chutney, appeared. Having tucked away the appetisers, they got ready to pray. Everyone ate with their right hands. Hands upraised, the azlan issued the call to prayer.
Some of them headed to the taps to wash their hands and feet. Others assumed a position meant to worship Allah in the direction of Mecca. Wheelchair-bound Saleem was lifted out of his wheelchair by an able-bodied young man. After the prayer, Ali stepped outside the mosque to look at the crescent-shaped moon and star. It's sighting was so important to the Muslims. A few minutes after the moon faded. "About one billion people pray and cry just to see this moon."
