HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 87

RECOGNIZING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN AND MUSLIM RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE AS THEY OBSERVE RAMADAN.

WHEREAS, Islam is one of the world’s major religions and part of our shared human heritage; and

WHEREAS, from the early days of European settlement to the present day, Muslim Americans have played a significant role in the history of this State’s economic, cultural, spiritual, and political development; and

WHEREAS, there are several thousand Muslim Americans across this State, contributing to its economy, social fabric, and multicultural and pluralistic traditions; and

WHEREAS, the United States benefits greatly from the diverse contributions of the Muslim community; and

WHEREAS, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and considered the holiest month of the year; and

WHEREAS, Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Quran, the holy book of Islam, was revealed; and

WHEREAS, Muslims fast during the entirety of the month of Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset; and

WHEREAS, many Muslims participate in nightly communal prayers called Taraweeh, in addition to the five daily Islamic prayers; and

WHEREAS, Ramadan is a time to reflect spiritually, build communally, and aid those in need and marks an annual spiritual beginning for each individual – a reason to celebrate and express gratitude in this month; and

WHEREAS, during the month of Ramadan, all people are encouraged to reflect on past success and challenges of Muslims and look to the future to continue to improve our society so that we live up to our ideals of freedom, equality, and justice; and

WHEREAS, as the month of Ramadan is observed, we must remember the critical importance of the respect that is to be accorded to all faiths and beliefs as reflected in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which forbids the making of any “law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion.”

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the observance of the holy month of Ramadan as a month of fasting, sacrifice, gratitude, and reflection and the Muslim residents of this State who daily contribute to the betterment of this State and this Nation be recognized.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the 152nd General Assembly encourages all Delawareans to join the General Assembly in celebrating the collective ingenuity, creativity, cultures, and traditions of Muslim Americans, and committing ourselves to raise awareness and appreciation of the month of Ramadan.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 152nd General Assembly encourages all governments, schools, and businesses throughout this State to extend religious accommodations, in accordance with existing law, to the many Muslim residents, students, and workers of this State as they observe Ramadan through fasting, sacrifice, and reflection and as they mark the end of Ramadan with celebratory festivities on the holiday known as Eid ul-Fitr.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes Ramadan and Muslim residents of this State as they observe Ramadan.