Sponsored by:
Senator EDWARD DURR
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Senator JOSEPH PENNACCHIO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Thompson and Cryan
SYNOPSIS
Designates Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha as days of observance in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha as days of observance in New Jersey.
Whereas, Muslims celebrate two Eids every lunar year, Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha; and
Whereas, Eid Ul-Fitr, which means “festival of the breaking of the fast”, is celebrated first at the conclusion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan; and
Whereas, Muslims in the United States observe this time of sacrifice and contemplation by fasting, reading the Holy Quran, participating in charity work and worship, and emphasizing self-discipline; and
Whereas, Eid Ul-Adha, the “feast of the sacrifice” is celebrated two months later and commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son; and
Whereas, Eid Ul-Adha is the more sacred of the two Eids, and often coincides with the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage, an annual weeklong Islamic pilgrimage in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia; and
Whereas, Muslim Americans in our communities make significant contributions to our State in such areas as medicine, science, engineering, commerce, economics, sports, education, and law; and
Whereas, Three percent of adults in New Jersey identify as Muslim; and
Whereas, Encouraging all State residents to recognize the significance of the two Eids will lead to greater understanding within our communities; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha shall be designated as days of observance in the State of New Jersey to recognize and celebrate their importance to the Muslim residents in our communities.
b. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon the public officials and the citizens of this State to observe Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha with appropriate activities and programs.
2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha as days of observance in New Jersey.
Muslims celebrate two Eids every lunar year, Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha. Eid Ul-Fitr, which means “festival of the breaking of the fast”, is celebrated first at the conclusion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Muslims in the United States observe this time of sacrifice and contemplation by fasting, reading the Holy Quran, participating in charity work and worship, and emphasizing self-discipline. Eid Ul-Adha, the “feast of the sacrifice” is celebrated two months later and commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. Eid Ul-Adha is the more sacred of the two Eids, and often coincides with the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage, an annual weeklong Islamic pilgrimage in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Three percent of adults in New Jersey identify as Muslim and the Muslim American residents in this State make significant contributions in such areas as medicine, science, engineering, commerce, economics, sports, education, and law. Recognizing and celebrating the significance of the two Eids will lead to greater understanding within our communities.