Philadelphia Masjid and the Muslim Community remain Resolute, Peaceful, and Proactive in the Wake of Violence at the Eid al-Fitr Celebration

Philadelphia Masjid and the Muslim community will come together on Saturday, April 27, in response to the violence that disturbed the peaceful Eid al-Fitr celebration following Ramadan. Taking a proactive approach to the situation, the Muslim community of Philadelphia will be right back on site at the Philadelphia Masjid, where the violence occurred, hosting a Community Day.
The lives of all in attendance that fateful day were forever changed, and while many elected officials and community stakeholders denounced the violence, the Muslim community came together on Friday, April 12, 2024, in an all-out effort to address the trauma of not only Muslim congregations throughout the city but the community as well.
It’s important to note that Eid al-Fitr celebrations have been taking place in this West Philadelphia location for fifty years with only one minor firecracker incident…more a prank than anything else, until the violence of Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Until then, the Philadelphia Masjid represented a safe space and a peaceful environment for this community.
This upcoming Community Day was not on the calendar prior to the events of April 10–but is deemed necessary considering those events.
This is trauma borne of tragic events that never should have happened, and now it needs to be addressed in a manner where no further harm is revisited among the victims. This Community Day on Saturday, April 27, is a way to return power to the victims… especially our younger victims, because on that day, their innocence was stolen.
Realizing that trauma left undiagnosed and/or untreated leaves the door open for a host of problems going forward, especially in young children, the Muslim community decided that the best course of action would be to address the issue head-on.
“Business Manager and Spokesperson for the Philadelphia Masjid Brother Saifullah N. Muhammad said, “I don’t think that anyone can speak with justice about that kind of trauma to our children and not just our children…our elderly, our congregations and our communities.”
Muhammad was himself at the Eid al-Fitr in the kitchen, as he is every year (for the past five years) as one of the lead people who prepare the food for the celebrations. This year, he was alarmed and quite surprised as he saw people flooding into his kitchen area seeking cover from the shooters. As people continued to pour into the kitchen area, Muhammad ran toward the fray, seeking to help those in distress and with concern for his own family–who were also in attendance.
“It’s the responsibility of the men in the community to protect the women, children, and the elderly…to stand up for our community,” said Muhammad.
Muhammad continued, “The police response was professional, exemplary, and I do believe that had the police officers not been there, the carnage would’ve been far worse, and there may have been loss of life. I commend the police and thank them for their quick response. That act of violence committed by five people trampled on the innocence of the children and youth, shattered the security of the elderly, and wrecked the congregation and our community‘s sense of safety.”
“For the perpetrators, naturally being on the receiving end of the violence, you’d feel a great deal of disdain, but I would say, you’ve not only traumatized a large group of people, but you’ve managed to compromise and ruin your own futures as well.”
Not wanting the last word about the Muslim faith to be sad and violent, the Philadelphia Muslim community is sponsoring this Community Day hosted at the Philadelphia Masjid. This is a day for families, women, children, and the elderly…a day to reclaim some of the lost innocence, sense of safety, and security. There will be multiple resources, including trauma counselors on site to help address the needs of children and adults. There will be games for the children and, of course, food and various treats.
Muhammad also said, “It must be noted that this is not a day for single males given the trauma inflicted upon the children when they were last at Philadelphia Masjid. We don’t want to further traumatize anyone. We would like for this to be the start of the healing process. It’s very important to us that people, especially our children, can feel comfortable coming back to that site.”
Going forward, all the Imams from all the Masjids, being the leaders, should inquire about and have a plan for the security of their congregations. “It’s the responsibility of every Masjid to respond to the safety and security needs of their congregations and community,” said Muhammad.