Unholy Coincidence? Muslims May Celebrate Holy Day on 9/11
Each year, Muslim leaders study the phases of the moon to choose the date of one of their most important holidays and, this year, it looks as if Eid al-Adha--the feast of sacrifice--may fall on the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
The 2001 attack by the Muslim terror group al Qaeda claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.
Habeeb Ahmed, president of the Islamic Center of Long Island, told The New York Times, "Some people might want to make something out of that."
He acknowledged that people might think, "look at these Muslims, they are celebrating 9/11."
Eid al-Adha remembers what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael in accordance with God's will, but God provided him with a sheep to sacrifice instead.
Abdul Bhuiyan, secretary-general of the Majlis Ashura, the Islamic Leadership Council of New York, told the Times that the holy day can also serve as an opportunity to honor those killed on Sept. 11, 2001.
Whether the holy day will actually fall on 9/11 is still unclear. Muslims believe it should take place 10 days after a new moon on the Islamic calendar. That new moon could happen on either Sept. 1 or Sept. 2.
