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Muslims offer taraweeh for first time at New York Times Square

Muslims offer taraweeh for first time at New York Times Square. Ramadan is finally here as Muslims all around the world observe the holy month. Aside from sehri and iftari during the month, Muslims attend daily taraweeh prayers during this time of the year. Usually, taraweehs are held inside a mosque but for the first time, people gathered to hold prayers in Times Square!

In an unprecedented event, over 1,000 Muslims broke their fasts and offered congregational taraweeh prayers at New York City’s Times Square, marking the beginning of the Holy month of Ramadan, according to CBS News.  

Muslims offer taraweeh for first time at New York Times Square

Times Square is a major commercial area and tourist destination in midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is one of the “most visited tourist attractions” which draws around 50 million visitors a year.

That’s right. Hundreds of people gathered on the busiest area of New York to mark the start of Ramadan. They held taraweeh prayers in Time Square. Pictures from this unique taraweeh congregation is going viral all over social media.

Muslims offer taraweeh for first time at New York Times Square

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The organizers distributed around 1,500 lunch boxes to those who attended the prayers from the United States, Canada and Montreal. They also recited verses from the Holy Quran before iftaar and explained the significance of the month.

The taraweeh prayers were broadcast live on social media.

“We are here to explain our religion to those who do not know what Islam is,” an organizer, SQ, told CBS News. “Islam is a religion of peace,” he added.

Muslims offer taraweeh for first time at New York Times Square

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Muslims offer taraweeh for first time at New York Times Square

Organizers of the event hope that the spectacle of congregational prayers will show Muslims in a better light, and event benefit non-Muslims to learn a thing or two about Islam.

This is the first time in the history of New York City that the Times Square hosted a taraweeh prayer. However, several members of the local Muslim community are concerned. The famous NY spot is a tourist attraction with crowded locations. Also, there are flashy posters of scantily clad models all around. Several local Muslims voiced their concerns.
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