“Barbados has over 4000 Muslims in the island right now and my dad’s vision for this place [came about] because he has two sons and one daughter but was blessed with seven granddaughters, so for him, it was very important to build something where all of his family, wife, daughter, and granddaughter can come and pray- a place were we can just worship and feel comfortable,” she said.
While Muslim Chaplin of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus Suleiman Bulbilia said that it is very important for Muslims to celebrate community with Eid especially coming out of the harsh COVID-19 lockdowns.
"Due to COVID-19 over the last two years, we have not been able to assemble like this for Eid in that period of time. What happened was that immediate families got together so for us it is a very joyous occasion coming out of the COVID-19 situation."
“We are just happy to be back out because Eid is about community, Eid is about family, friends, and relatives getting together-sharing food and sharing gifts, and coming out of the COVID-19 situation it is very joyous to celebrate Eid together,” Bulbilia added.
Ferozah Kothdiawala added that they were truly privileged to be able to attend to participate in the prayers at Dar-ul-Fazal.
Echoing her sentiments was daughter, Firhanna Bulbilia who said that she was pleased with the safe space Muslim women have to use for prayer.
“In Barbados, this Eid was particularly special because we now have this new facility where women and girls can partake in prayers. Throughout the month of Ramadan we saw many women come from all over Barbados to pray."
Imam of the Dar-ul-Fazal Musalla Hanzalah Gangat said that he truly enjoyed the fact that Muslim families can come together for the special time of prayer and celebration.
“My main thing is bringing people together, uniting them as one, that's my vision for 2022,” he said.
“The importance of people coming together for gatherings like this is that it [shows] we are all one, we come under one umbrella and it is [good] when we see everyone gathering together,” Gangat added.
The Eid celebrations brought out just about 500 Muslims for the morning of prayer which climaxed with delicious food provided by the various families who attended. There was also a kids zone complete with horseback riding, jumping tents, henna painting, and an Amir’s chicken mascot for the little ones.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.