The devout join hands in prayer to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the Seoul Central Masjid in Itaewon as Ramadan comes to an end, on June 15.
By Kim Young Deok and Hahm Hee-eun
Photos = Kim Young Deok
Seoul | June 15, 2018
“Eid mubarak!”
A prayer service was held to mark the end of Ramadan and to celebrate the important holiday of Eid al-Fitr at the Seoul Central Masjid in Itaewon on June 15.
Starting at 9 a.m., two hours before the actual prayer service, a large number of Muslims gathered at the Seoul Central Masjid to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Around 2,000 Muslims squeezed into all different parts of the mosque to pray and to hear the sermon by Imam A. Rahman Lee Ju-Hwa, which took around 10 minutes.
In his congratulatory message, Imam Lee said, “The long period of fasting and enduring has become a beautiful memory for Muslims everywhere. I would like to share words of congratulations with all our Muslim brothers and sisters who have successfully gone through the holy month of Ramadan.”
Imam A. Rahman Lee Ju-Hwa (fifth from the left) and some Muslims from Sudan post for a photo after a prayer at the Seoul Central Masjid in Itaewon on June 15.
Since there wasn’t enough space, many people brought their own prayer rug to perform their obeisances. After the prayer service, the Korean Muslim Federation provided bread and milk to everyone who visited the central mosque.
Mohammed Mahmoud, a university student from Egypt, said, “Eid al-Fitr is one of the most important festivals for Muslims all around the world. It reflects upon the humane and community-based philosophy of Islam.”
He added, “Back in Egypt, I normally celebrate the festival with close friends and family, but since I can’t be with them here in Korea, I have to celebrate it in a different way. I visit the Seoul Central Masjid every year and share blessings with people from different nationalities.”
Freelancer model from Egypt Mohammed Magdy also said with a grin that, “I had to wake up early to come to the only Islamic mosque in Seoul, since I live in a suburban city, Suwon, in Gyeonggi-do Province. The weather in Korea is a lot nicer than in Egypt for Eid al-Fitr this year, so I’m planning to celebrate the festival with my Muslim friends down on the banks of the Hangang River.”
kyd1991@korea.kr
