Muslims Gather To Celebrate End Of Ramadan, Reflect On Recent Attacks

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Hallandale (CBSMiami) – Muslims everywhere, including right here in South Florida, gathered Wednesday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

They got together for the final celebration of Eid Ul Fitr at the Bait Ul Naseer Mosque in Hallandale Beach.

"The month of Ramadan is where Muslims fast for 30 days and to mark the end of that month, which is a month of self-purification, supplication and charity," explained Dr. Khalid Minhas, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, a sect of the larger Islam community.

As the group of men, women and children socialized for the Eid Ul Fitr holiday, they also reflected on a particularly deadly week overseas, the last of the Ramadan.

Some of the bloodier attacks included a truck bomb killing more than 200 in a crowded Baghdad market, suicide bombers killing 44 at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey and 23 killed at a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

But the most horrifying to most Muslims around the world:  Monday's attack in the second holiest site in Islam and the final resting place of the Prophet Mohammed in the Saudi city of Medina.

"We saw so much violence and unfortunately it's violence in the name of religion," Dr. Minhas told CBS4 Reporter Donna Rapado.  "It's a double whammy for us as Muslims that in one way we so much innocent life lost.  And then also the name of our very peaceful religion and faith mixed with that bloodshed."

Around the mosque banners boldly denounced Islamic extremists recruiting young American-Muslims like 16 year old Falah Khan, who plans to join the U.S. Air Force.

"I want to serve my country and show how much I care for everyone," Khan told Rapado.  "I want to bring a big example to friends I have that I can accomplish something good."

The name of the website working to keep Islamist extremists from luring young people is http://trueislam.com/home/.