BETTENDORF, Iowa — According to the Pew Research Center, there were roughly 3.5 million active Muslims living in the United States in 2017.
With this many followers, local mosques are preparing for Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, coming up on Wednesday, June 28.
Origins of this holiday come from the story of Abraham when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice one of his two sons, but was saved when the Angel Gabriel brought Abraham a ram to sacrifice instead.
In modern times this holiday is meant to highlight the climax of Hajj or the Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and requires special Eid prayers in honor of Ishmael.
In Bettendorf, the Muslim Community of the Quad Cities began celebrations at 8 a.m., followed by prayer at 8:30 a.m.
Ahmad Cheema, a member of the Muslim Community of the Quad Cities Mosque, says it brings him a lot of joy for the community to celebrate tradition.
"It's an amazing feat for the Muslims to be able to gather freely and be able to express their tradition and be able to culminate and fulfill what has been ordered of them to do," Cheema said. "By being our friendly neighbor, co-worker or even our boss who allows us the time to celebrate this, that helps us keep our traditions going and without them, this wouldn't be possible."
According to members of the mosque, they expected nearly 500 people to participate in the celebration. Ayesha Shaike, who is visiting family in the Quad Cities from Cleveland, says she is impressed with the diversity that is offered around the area.
"I've seen people from so many different countries and in their different attires," Shaike added. "That really surprises me, because in Cleveland, we do have a big Muslim community, but it's it's from a particular community. It's not as diverse as here."
Eid al-Adha is considered to be the second biggest religion among the Islamic community, only behind Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated at the end of Ramadan.
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