The thousands of Muslims in Nice celebrated the end of Ramadan fasting yesterday.
No more prohibition on eating, drinking, smoking, or engaging in sexual activities from sunrise to sunset for the practitioners of the city’s second religion.
“We are happy, today is a special day for us. This Ramadan was difficult because the days were longer, so we had to fast from 5 am to 8 pm. But I am glad to have made it through, without drinking or eating; it’s a pride for me, I am at peace with my body,” declared Ali, a 28-year-old shopkeeper who came to pray at the Ariane prayer hall.
There were more than a hundred people at 8:30 am for the Eid al-Fitr prayer (the festival of breaking the fast).
“Today, I took a day off. After the prayer, I will visit family, wish them a happy festival, call my mother back home, and tomorrow, I will resume my normal life without forgetting others,” noted Karim. (Note: Believers are also required to give a mandatory alms to the needy on this day.)
“We want a real place of worship”
“We are gathered here in the prayer hall for lack of a better place, we are still waiting for our mosque in Nice. It’s not right that the second-largest faith in our city does not have its place of worship. Why are there synagogues, churches, but no mosque?” protested the Imam of Ariane.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, promised this during his municipal campaign, although he didn’t specify whether it would be built in the city center or outside.
“We are entitled to our place of worship. I am saddened that some residents of Nice oppose this in a city that claims to be multicultural. Don’t be afraid of Islam; it’s a religion of peace. Today, I pray that our mosque in the city center will come soon.”
Until the promises are kept, the fund for building the mosque continues to fill, and some elected officials from the majority and opposition extend Eid wishes to Muslims.
