President Biden and first lady Jill Biden marked the start of Ramadan on Monday, sending their “warmest greetings and best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world.”
“As many of our fellow Americans begin fasting tomorrow, we are reminded of how difficult this year has been. In this pandemic, friends and loved ones cannot yet gather together in celebration and congregation, and far too many families will sit down for iftar with loved ones missing,” the president and first lady said in a statement Monday.
Muslim people celebrating the annual holy month fast daily from sunrise to sundown.
The Bidens said in the message that “our Muslim communities begin the month of revelation with renewed hope.”
“Many will focus on increasing their consciousness of the presence of God in their lives, reaffirming their commitment to the service of others that their faith compels, and expressing gratitude for the blessings they enjoy—health, well-being, and life itself,” they said.
They added that White House festivities marking Ramadan will be held virtually this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, but they will resume “the traditional White House Eid celebration in person next year, inshallah,” using the Arabic word for “God willing.”
The president and first lady also noted that “Muslim Americans continue to be targeted by bullying, bigotry, and hate crimes” across the country.
“This prejudice and these attacks are wrong. They are unacceptable. And they must stop. No one in America should ever live in fear of expressing his or her faith,” they said.
President Biden vowed that his administration “will work tirelessly to protect the rights and safety of all people.”
He also noted that his administration ended the Trump administration’s controversial travel ban, which barred admissions into the country from several majority-Muslim nations, and vowed to “stand up for human rights everywhere, including for Uyghurs in China, Rohingya in Burma, and Muslim communities all over the world.”
There are three Muslim members of Congress — Reps. André Carson (D-Ind.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — all of whom shared messages marking Ramadan on social media on Monday.