USPS Releases New Muslim “Eid Greetings” Stamp

USPS Eid Greetings Stamp, Eid Kum Mubarak -"May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed)"
USPS Eid Greetings Stamp, Eid Kum Mubarak -“May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed)”
USPS stamp commemorates Islamic holiday Eid.

On June 10, the United States Postal Service released a new Forever stamp to commemorate two important Muslim festivals, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. The ceremony was held at Dearborn's Islamic Center of America. Sam Salamey, District Court Judge, Barbara McQuade, U.S. Attorney, and officials from the U.S. Postal Service were present during the ceremony. The event also saw participation from Muslim American Youth Academy students, and Boy Scouts of America Troop 1139.

USPS Releases New Muslim Eid Greetings Stamp.[/tweetthis]

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha, also called as Bakr-Eid, is the latter of the two Eid holidays and is considered the holiest of the two.

Forever stamps are non-denominated postage stamps. They can be used to mail letters weighing one ounce or less, irrespective of the postal rate.

The Detroit area is home to one of the country's largest Muslim populations. Addressing the event, McQuade said that the USPS could have issued the stamp anywhere, but they chose to issue it in Dearborn, which shows that the city has the largest population of Muslim-Americans in America and that it has the largest mosque in America. They are proud of those two facts. Also, by releasing the stamp, the U.S. government has shown their stamp of approval on religious diversity.

Salamey praised the “bold” move of the Postal Service to release the stamp at a time when the political tension is so high. “It also confirms that in America, we are all Americans,” Salamey said.

Mohamed Zakariya, the acclaimed calligrapher residing in Arlington, Virginia, designed the stamp. It features gold-colored calligraphy. The design evokes centuries of tradition. The script on the stamp reads Eid Kum Mubarak, meaning, may your Eid be bountiful (or blessed).

A lot of Islamophobics took to social media to express their displeasure at the release of the new Eid stamp. One post wrongly labeled Barack Obama as a Muslim President, claiming the Eid stamp is his latest venture to honor his religion.

Barack Obama is a Christian, and it was President George W. Bush who ordered the first stamp to honor the Muslim festival, in the year 2001, just before the September 11 attacks. There are about seven million Muslims in America, and the Muslim population is increasing day by day. USPS issued the stamp to recognize the religious beliefs of Muslims. The Arab Daily News writer Ray Hanania says that the issuance of the stamp “has nothing to do with terrorism, but everything to do with the tradition of the United States recognizing major religious holidays.”

Emeritus trustee at the Islamic Center of America, Albert Harp, said that he is expecting more stamps in the future, commemorating the accomplishments Muslims have made to America, and to the world.

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