Presidential Message: Eid al-Fitr

October 20, 2006

I send greetings to Muslims in the United States and around the world celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

Islam is a great faith that has transcended racial and ethnic divisions and brought hope and comfort to many people. Throughout Ramadan, Muslims have fasted to focus their minds on faith and to direct their hearts to charity. Eid al-Fitr marks the completion of this holy month with the Festival of Breaking the Fast. During this joyous celebration, Muslims thank God for his guidance and blessings by gathering with family and friends, sharing traditional foods, and showing compassion to those in need.

America is strengthened by the countless contributions of our Muslim citizens, and we value our ties with Muslim nations throughout the world. For people of all faiths, Eid al-Fitr is an opportunity to reflect on the values we share and the friendships that bind all who trace their faith back to God's call to Abraham.

Laura and I send our best wishes for a joyous Eid and for health, happiness, and prosperity in the year ahead. Eid Mubarak.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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Yes, Islam has transcended racial and ethnic divisions. It is a univeralist religion. That is why there is no need for non-Arab Muslims to read or memorize the Qur'an in Arabic even if they do not understand a word. That is why no one need prostrate himself qiblawards - towards Arabia -- five times a day, or take an Arab name, or pretend to a false Arab lineage, or find the source of all virtue in a seventh century Arab and his seventh-century Arab companions. That is why the Kurds have never had any problems with fellow Muslim Arabs in Iraq, the Berbers have never suffered any linguistic or cultural persecution at the hands of Arabs in Algeria, why the black African Muslims are embraced so warmly by the Arab Janjaweed in Darfur. It is why one can be sure that when at long last s "prosperity" and "jobs" are brought to the long-suffering "people of Iraq" that Shi'a and Sunni will get along splendidly, compromising in the true spirit of Islam, emulating the model of Muhammad, that famously Great Compromiser who would put Henry Clay to shame.

That is Islam.

That is Eid al-fitr.

And that is George W. Bush.