Statement By President Obama On The Occasion Of Eid ul-Fitr

"Eid Mubarak..."

President Obama hosted an Iftar Dinner for Ramadan in the State Dining Room at the White House on August 10th. Today he issued a statement for Eid ul-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar. The President's Iftar Dinner was the third he has hosted since taking office. The guest list is here, but no menu was released for the dinner.



The President's statement:



Michelle and I would like to send Eid greetings to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan has been a time for families and communities to share the happiness of coming together in intense devotion, reflection, and service. Millions all over the world have been inspired to honor their faith by reaching out to those less fortunate. This year, many have observed the month while courageously persevering in their efforts to secure basic necessities and fundamental freedoms. The United States will continue to stand with them and for the dignity and rights of all people, whether a hungry child in the Horn of Africa or a young person demanding freedom in the Middle East and North Africa.



As Ramadan comes to an end, we send our best wishes for a blessed holiday to Muslim communities around the world. Eid Mubarak.



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2011 White House Iftar: President Obama Honors Muslim Americans During Ramadan Celebration

Ahead of tenth anniversary of 9/11, President speaks of service and sacrifice during "difficult decade"...

President Obama on Wednesday night marked the holy month of Ramadan as he hosted the third Iftar dinner of his Administration in the State Dining Room, beginning shortly after 8:40 PM in accordance with the Islamic requirement of fasting until sunset. The President, clad in a dark suit and standing beneath the famous painting of President Abraham Lincoln that hangs above the fireplace in the State Dining Room, honored the service and sacrifice of Muslim Americans during seven minutes of remarks. He looked ahead to next month's tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, when he will observe the aftermath of what he called "a difficult decade" with ceremonies at Ground Zero, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon. Special guests for the dinner for about 100 guests were family members of Muslim 9/11 victims and first responders, as well as family members of troops who were casualties in the wars that followed.



The anniversary of 9/11 will be a time to pay tribute to Muslims as well as Americans of all faiths, the President said.



"It will be a time to honor all those that we’ve lost, the families who carry on their legacy, the heroes who rushed to help that day and all who have served to keep us safe during a difficult decade," President Obama said. "And tonight, it’s worth remembering that these Americans were of many faiths and backgrounds, including proud and patriotic Muslim Americans."



Guest also included the two Muslim Members of Congress: Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MINN) and Rep. Andre Carson (IND), as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps, including 13 Arab Ambassadors from Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, UAE, Yemen and the PLO representative, among other nations. Other guests were religious and community leaders, and senior White House officials. There were two pro sports players: Hamza Abdullah of the Arizona Cardinals and Husain Abdullah of the Minnesota Vikings.



"Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life. This has been especially true over the past 10 years," President Obama said.



Muslims, President Obama said, were passengers on the planes that struck the Twin Towers, and working in the buildings as well as at the Pentagon.



"They were...Americans by birth and Americans by choice, immigrants who crossed the oceans to give their children a better life," President Obama said. “They were cooks and waiters, but also analysts and executives."



President Obama hailed the Muslim Americans who joined the Armed Forces after the terror attacks as crucial members of the “9/11 generation,” and also praised those who serve on the homefront as firefighters and police.



“Make no mistake, Muslim Americans help to keep us safe,” President Obama said.



"This generation has earned its place in history," he added, and asked family members to stand and be recognized.



Some of the guests wept during the President's remarks,

including Mansura Shajahan, who wiped away tears as she and her son Yusuf Shajahan were acknowledged by the President as among the 9/11 families; her husband Mohammed Shajahan died in the World Trade Center on 9/11.



"This year and every year, we must ask ourselves: How do we honor these patriots -- those who died and those who served?" President Obama said. "We must be the America they lived for and the America they died for, the America they sacrificed for."



President Obama also spoke about 9/11 at the 2010 Iftar Dinner, weighing in on whether or not a Mosque should be built at Ground Zero, but this year's remarks were far less controversial.



Guests from his Administration included Huma Abedin, Special Assistant to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the wife of former Democrat Representative from New York, Anthony Weiner; Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan; Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Special Advisor Samantha Power, and Press Secretary Jay Carney. First Lady Michelle Obama did not attend the dinner; she is away on vacation in Oregon. (Abedin, above, speaks with a guest)



The White House did not release the menu for the important dinner. Floral centerpieces were made of orange and yellow roses in low gold china baskets adorned the tables, which were covered in cloths of the same color scheme. Gold candles adorned the tables. Before dinner, guests were offered fruit juices and dried dates, the traditional fastbreaking foods for Ramadan. The President's only light moment during his remarks came at the start of his speech.



"This year, Ramadan is entirely in August. That means the days are long, the weather is hot, and you are hungry," the President said, to laughter. "So I will be brief."







Hosting Iftar dinners at the White House is a tradition that began with President Bill Clinton, and it was continued annually by President George W. Bush, who hosted eight during his administration.



*The transcript of the President's remarks is here.



*White House video; AP photos

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No Menu Released For President Obama's 2011 Ramadan Iftar Dinner

Why was the menu off the record?
The twinned practices of daylong fasting and then breaking the fast with a big dinner occupies a central place in the observation of Ramadan, the holiest month on the Muslim calendar. So it might seem to makes sense that the White House would release the menu for President Obama's White House Iftar dinner on Wednesday night, the most high-profile Iftar in America. The President was joined by an interfaith group of guests that included Members of Congress and  the Diplomatic Corps, senior White House officials,  high-profile American Muslims, and families of 9/11 victims and heroes. But no menu was issued for the dinner (a full post about the event is here). (Above, President Obama's place setting was photographed before the Iftar dinner began) 

No reason was given for not releasing the menu to media, but this isn't the first time the White House did not release the menu for a major dinner.  There is actually no discernible pattern to White House decisions for releasing or not releasing menus, over the course of the last two-plus years.  It's entirely random. 

The foreign pool reporter on duty on Wednesday noted that traditional Ramadan fast-breaking foods, fruit juice and dried dates, were served to guests as they awaited entrance into the State Dining Room for the Presidential Iftar. But that was it for food notations, and that was accidental; the reporter just happened to spot guests being offered these items while she was awaiting escort into the State Dining Room. 

President's Obama's dinner came one month ahead of the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and he brought some of his guests to tears in the State Dining Room as he spoke about the approaching anniversary, and honored the service and sacrifice of Muslim Americans to the country. But first, the President made a joke about the crucial role food plays in Ramadan, where the observant fast from sunrise to sunset, and are not even allowed to drink water.

"Now, this year, Ramadan is entirely in August. That means the days are long, the weather is hot, and you are hungry," the President said, to laughter. "So I will be brief."

*The transcript and video of the President's remarks is here.

*AP photo.

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Transcript & Video: President Obama's Remarks, 2011 Ramadan Iftar Dinner

"Islam has always been part of our American family..."

President Obama marked the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday night at the White House, hosting the third Iftar Dinner of his Administration. A full post is here. Four Members of Congress attended, including two Muslim Members: Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MINN) and Rep. Andre Carson (IND), as did many members of the Diplomatic Corps, including 13 Arab Ambassadors, from Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, UAE, Yemen and the PLO representative. Members of 9/11 families were special guests; the dinner comes ahead of the tenth anniversary of the terror attacks. Religious and grassroots leaders in the Muslim American community and leaders of diverse faiths were also invited, as were senior White House officials. The guest list is here, as released by the White House. No menu was released.







The transcript:

THE WHITE HOUSE



Office of the Press Secretary

_____________________________________________

For Immediate Release

August 10, 2011

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

DURING IFTAR DINNER

East Room



8:35 P.M. EDT



THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Everyone, please have a seat, have a seat.



Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the White House. Tonight is part of a rich tradition here at the White House of celebrating the holy days of many faiths and the diversity that define us as a nation. So these are quintessentially American celebrations -- people of different faiths coming together, with humility before our maker, to reaffirm our obligations to one another, because no matter who we are, or how we pray, we’re all children of a loving God.



Now, this year, Ramadan is entirely in August. That means the days are long, the weather is hot, and you are hungry. (Laughter.) So I will be brief.



I want to welcome the members of the diplomatic corps who are here; the members of Congress, including two Muslim American members of Congress -- Keith Ellison and Andre Carson; and leaders and officials from across my administration. Thank you all for being here. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)



To the millions of Muslim Americans across the United States and more -- the more than one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection and a time of devotion. It’s an occasion to join with family and friends in celebration of a faith known for its diversity and a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human beings. So to you and your families, Ramadan Kareem.



This evening reminds us of both the timeless teachings of a great religion and the enduring strengths of a great nation. Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life. This has been especially true over the past 10 years.



In one month, we will mark the 10th anniversary of those awful attacks that brought so much pain to our hearts. It will be a time to honor all those that we’ve lost, the families who carry on their legacy, the heroes who rushed to help that day and all who have served to keep us safe during a difficult decade. And tonight, it’s worth remembering that these Americans were of many faiths and backgrounds, including proud and patriotic Muslim Americans.



Muslim Americans were innocent passengers on those planes, including a young married couple looking forward to the birth of their first child. They were workers in the Twin Towers -- Americans by birth and Americans by choice, immigrants who crossed the oceans to give their children a better life. They were cooks and waiters, but also analysts and executives.



There, in the towers where they worked, they came together for daily prayers and meals at Iftar. They were looking to the future -- getting married, sending their kids to college, enjoying a well-deserved retirement. And they were taken from us much too soon. And today, they live on in the love of their families and a nation that will never forget. And tonight, we’re deeply humbled to be joined by some of these 9/11 families, and I would ask them to stand and be recognized, please. (Applause.)



Muslim Americans were first responders -- the former police cadet who raced to the scene to help and then was lost when the towers collapsed around him; the EMTs who evacuated so many to safety; the nurse who tended to so many victims; the naval officer at the Pentagon who rushed into the flames and pulled the injured to safety. On this 10th anniversary, we honor these men and women for what they are -- American heroes.



Nor let us forget that every day for these past 10 years Muslim Americans have helped to protect our communities as police and firefighters, including some who join us tonight. Across our federal government, they keep our homeland secure, they guide our intelligence and counterterrorism efforts and they uphold the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans. So make no mistake, Muslim Americans help to keep us safe.



We see this in the brave service of our men and women in uniform, including thousands of Muslim Americans. In a time of war, they volunteered, knowing they could be sent into harm’s way. Our troops come from every corner of our country, with different backgrounds and different beliefs. But every day they come together and succeed together, as one American team.



During the 10 hard years of war, our troops have served with excellence and with honor. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice, among them Army Specialist Kareem Khan. Galvanized by 9/11 to serve his country, he gave his life in Iraq and now rests with his fellow heroes at Arlington. And we thank Kareem’s mother, Elsheba, for being here again tonight. (Applause.) Like Kareem, this generation has earned its place in history, and I would ask all of our service members here tonight -- members of the 9/11 Generation -- to stand and accept the thanks of our fellow Americans. (Applause.)



This year and every year, we must ask ourselves: How do we honor these patriots -- those who died and those who served? In this season of remembrance, the answer is the same as it was 10 Septembers ago. We must be the America they lived for and the America they died for, the America they sacrificed for.



An America that doesn’t simply tolerate people of different backgrounds and beliefs, but an America where we are enriched by our diversity. An America where we treat one another with respect and with dignity, remembering that here in the United States there is no “them” or “us;” it’s just us. An America where our fundamental freedoms and inalienable rights are not simply preserved, but continually renewed and refreshed -- among them the right of every person to worship as they choose. An America that stands up for dignity and the rights of people around the world, whether a young person demanding his or her freedom in the Middle East or North Africa, or a hungry child in the Horn of Africa, where we are working to save lives.



Put simply, we must be the America that goes forward as one family, like generations before us, pulling together in times of trial, staying true to our core values and emerging even stronger. This is who we are and this is who we must always be.



Tonight, as we near a solemn anniversary, I cannot imagine a more fitting wish for our nation. So God bless you all and God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.)



END 8:43 P.M. EDT

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Guest List: President Obama's 2011 Iftar Dinner

Lawmakers, Ambassadors, 9/11 families, religious leaders join President, but the list is dated Aug. 13, 2010...

As released by the White House, following is a partial list of the attendees at President Obama's Iftar dinner on Wednesday night, where he lauded Muslim Americans for both their service and sacrifice on 9/11. A full post is here. The event was held in the State Dining Room, and began at 8:40 PM. Four Members of Congress attended, including the two Muslim Members: Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MINN) and Rep. Andre Carson (IND)as did many members of the Diplomatic Corps, including 13 Arab Ambassadors, from Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, UAE, Yemen and the PLO representative. There were two pro sports players: Hamza Abdullah of the Arizona Cardinals and Husain Abdullah of the Minnesota Vikings. Religious and grassroots leaders in the Muslim American community and leaders of diverse faiths were also invited. The White House did not release a menu for the fast-breaking dinner, the third the President has hosted. The transcript of his remarks is here. (Above: The President during his remarks)



Guests from the President's Administration included Huma Abedin, Special Assistant to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the wife of former Democrat Representative from New York, Anthony Weiner; Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan; Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Special Advisor Samantha Power, and Press Secretary Jay Carney. (Abedin speaks with a guest, above)



The release of the guest list from the Office of the Press Secretary has the date of last year's Iftar dinner guest list on it, August 13, 2010, but many of the names are different from last year's list.



At left, guest Mansura Shajahan wiped away tears as she and her son Yusuf Shajahan were acknowledged by the President as among the 9/11 families invited to the White House for the dinner; her husband Mohammed Shajahan died in the World Trade Center on 9/11.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2010

Expected Attendees at the White House Iftar Dinner

This evening, the President will continue a White House tradition of hosting an Iftar celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room. This is the third Iftar hosted by the President. The Iftar is the meal that breaks the day of fasting, when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.



Below is a list of some of the expected attendees at tonight’s White House dinner celebrating Ramadan:



MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

The Honorable Andre Carson, United States Representative

The Honorable John Conyers, United States Representative

The Honorable Keith Ellison, United States Representative

The Honorable Donald Payne, United States Representative



DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali, Ambassador, African Union Mission

His Excellency Abdallah Baali, Ambassador, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

His Excellency Yashar Aliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Her Excellency Huda Ezra Nonoo, Ambassador of Bahrain

His Excellency Akramul Qader, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

His Excellency Bienvenu Joseph Charles Foe-Atangana, Ambassador of Cameroon

His Excellency Adam Bechir Mahamoud, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad

His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti

His Excellency Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

His Excellency Mory Karamoko Kaba, Ambassador of Guinea

His Excellency Bayney Ram Karran, Ambassador of Guyana

His Excellency Dino Patti Djalal, Ambassador of Indonesia

His Excellency Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq

His Excellency Micahel Scott Oren, Ambassador of Israel

His Excellency Aziz Mekour, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

Her Excellency Aminata Maiga Djibrilla, Ambassador of Niger

Her Excellency Hunaina Sultan Ahmed Al Mughairy, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman

His Excellency Husain Haqqani, Ambassador of Pakistan

His Excellency Mr. Maen Areikat, Ambassador, PLO Mission

His Excellency Ali Bin Fahad Faleh Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar

His Excellency Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation

His Excellency Adel A.M. Al-Jubeir, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia

Her Excellency Fatou Danielle Diagne, Ambassador of Senegal

His Excellency Bockari Kortu Stevens, Ambassador of Sierra Leone

His Excellency Subhas Chandra Mungra, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname

His Excellency Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Ambassador of Tanzania

His Excellency Edawe Limbiye Kadangha Bariki, Ambassador, Togo

His Excellency Namik Tan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey

His Excellency Yousif Mana Saeed Alotaiba, Ambassador, United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Ilhomjon Tuychievich Nematov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan

His Excellency Abdulwahab A. Al Hajjri, Ambassador of the Republic Yemen

His Excellency Ufuk Gokcen, Ambassador and Permanent Observer, Organization of the Islamic Conference

The Honorable Damir Dzanko, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Bosnia

The Honorable Sufyan Salman Qudah, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

The Honorable Jetish Jashari, Chargé d'Affaires at Embassy of Republic of Kosovo

The Honorable Tarek Ben Youssef, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Tunisia



COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Mr. Hamza Abdullah, Arizona Cardinals

Mr. Husain Abdullah, Minnesota Vikings

Ms. Dina Amer

Mrs. Durriya Badani, Brookings Institute

Ms. Faiza Arain, Los Angeles Police Department

Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, Aga Khan

Mr. Mohamed Ali Malouche, Tunisian American Young Professionals

Mr. Akram Syed, National Association of Indian Muslims

Mrs. Mansura Shajahan

Mr. Yusuf Shajahan

Dr. Manzoor Tariq, Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America



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*AP photos

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