Real Eid of a Muslim will be when s/he establishes a living relationship with God and gives Him preference over all things and secondly when s/he serves humanity.

…Imam Syed Shamshad Nasir.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Chicago celebrated the end of the holy month of Ramadan with prayers and Eid festival.

The Eid-ul-Fitr this year fell on Saturday June 18, 2015. Ahmadis from all over Chicago as well as outside Chicago, gathered at the Masjid Bait-ul-Jaamay mosque in Glen Ellyn for Eid prayers.

Attendees which were around 900 included men, women, children from all walks of life, of all ages, belonging to diverse nationalities and ethnicity arrived at the mosque dressed in their festive best.

The prayers started promptly at 10 am lead by Imam Nasir after which he delivered Eid sermon. Imam conveyed the Eid greetings to all on behalf of worldwide Khalifa of Islam Hazrat Mirza Masroor ahmad and from Ameer of USA Dr Ehsan Zaffar.

Imam Shamshad exhorted the congregation to never forget the spirit of sacrifice and abstention from evil that Ramadan inculcated in all of us. He said that the Satan that Allah promises to be chained in Ramadan, is the inner satan in all of us, which incites us to do evil. We must endeavor to not let this satan free, but keep it under restraint the rest of the year and all our lives as well, through the self-discipline and the spirit of sacrifice that we learned in Ramadan.

Imam also reminded that as we tried our best to worship Allah in Ramzan we should continue it and at the same time we should treat our wives and children and friends, and neighbors in kind manners.

Imam also said that we should pray for the successes of this our country USA where we live and we enjoy freedom of to exercise our faith freely, he condemn the Chattanooga shooting in which 4 marines were killed and 3 were wounded.

Imam shamshad said we must maintain peace, patience and justice, we also pray for the fallen victims and the speedy recovery of the wounded.

Imam lead all in silence prayer.

After the sermon, the members greeted each other with the traditional “Eid Mubarak” greeting and hugs. Young and old, children and adults congratulated each other upon successful completion of Ramadan.

Prizes were distributed among those children who had completed at least one reading of the Quran in Ramzan or who had graduated from their schools.

Refreshments including, sweets, samosas, and “chaat” were served. The mosque presented a festive atmosphere despite the extreme hot weather. Children enjoyed themselves with the playful activities that included bouncy house, slides, balloons, cotton candies, and ice candy that had been provided for them.

The festival concluded with Zuhr prayers at 1pm.