A file photo of US Muslims performing the `Eid prayer outside the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C.

CAIRO — Since settling in St. Louis, Virginia, 20 years ago, Dr. Ghazala Hayat and her husband cardiologist Sultan Hayat have opened their home to thousands of people to partake in the `Eid Al-Fitr celebration, relishing the memories of spending the festive time with their next of kin in native Pakistan.

"During my first Eid (in the United States), there was no celebration," Hayat, a professor of neurology at St. Louis University, told The St. Louis Today newspaper Saturday, October 21.

"I remember I woke up (the morning of Eid) and I just cried. I felt that a part of me was not able to do what I grew up with and there was nothing I could do."

`Eid Al-Fitr is a festival that comes at the end of Ramadan, a month-long observance highlighted by fasting each day, and prayer.

It is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations. `Eid Al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," is the other.

More than a billion Muslims around the world will observe `Eid al-Fitr, which is expected to begin Monday or Tuesday, depending on the moon sighting.

Missing the good old times, Hayat and her husband decided to have an open house every year and host fellow US Muslims to celebrate `Eid together to do away with the overwhelming sense of homesickness.

"I cannot spend the next 40 years thinking about what it used to be," she thought. "So I said OK, I'll have open house. That started it, and more and more people started opening their homes."

Everywhere 

Hayat's mastermind has spread across the States with many Muslims following in her footsteps.

"I think she feels very strongly about having this. The celebration is held at many places now, but she is one of the ones who started the tradition. She is very supportive of the whole community," said Maheen Malik, a longtime friend of the Hayats.

"Ghazala has a huge heart. She is always hospitable, and she's always inviting more people," added Malik, a neurologist at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur.

Hayat has been a Muslim activist since 1986. She is president of the board of Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the first woman and the first Muslim to serve in the post. She is also a board member of the YWCA, the largest women's organization in the United States.

Sarwar Ahmed and his family have been attending the `Eid celebration at Hayat's home since it began.

"It's something that I look forward to every year," said Ahmed. "It's a nice gathering of people from all across the board. The food is excellent. It's just a great festive mood there."

On the eve of the celebration, Sunday or Monday, all the women and girls will gather, have dinner and decorate themselves for the occasion.

The women's meeting used to be held at someone's home, but with the steady growth of the celebration each year, it will be held at a hotel in St. Louis County. About 300 will attend.

On the day of Eid, festive clothes are worn to attend mosque for community prayer.

The St. Lousi Muslim minority, estimated at 50,000, are used to praying at large open-air venues every year.

"This year's prayer will include about 3,000 to 4,000 people," Hayat says.

After that, socializing will be held at the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis in West County, followed by open house meetings and lunch. Dinner will be at Christian Brothers College high school in West County.

"It gives me and my family great satisfaction to bring this happiness to people," said Hayat.

"I get satisfaction on many levels: friendship, religious and spiritual, and community. It's like home away from home."