Birmingham Mayor Woodfin Proclaims Muslim American Heritage Month

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Birmingham City Council, Mayor Randall Woodfin asked the Council to endorse his proclamation recognizing the Muslim holidays of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha in Birmingham. Accompanied by Dr. Nasim Uddin, President of the Birmingham Islamic Society and Society Member Tanveer Patel, the Mayor also proclaimed the month of January 2026 as Muslim American Heritage Month in Birmingham.

“Muslim Americans are a vital part of our diversity, and we would like to take a moment to recognize them and their contributions with a special proclamation,” Woodfin said. He went on to “proclaim January 2026 as Muslim American Heritage Month in the City of Birmingham, Alabama.”

The Mayor continued, “I also want to encourage all residents to reflect upon and celebrate the rich history, culture and contributions of Muslim Americans, and to continue working together to build a City rooted not only in understanding and unity, but also in equity and shared humanity.”

Tanveer Patel addressed the Council, and in a statement to ALpolitics.com thanked the Mayor and City, saying “Today, Birmingham makes history. This proclamation doesn’t just recognize our holidays — it affirms that American Muslims are an integral part of this city’s fabric. We’ve always been here, building, serving, and contributing. Birmingham officially acknowledges that. This is what true leadership looks like. Thank you, Mayor Woodfin and the city council, for seeing us and honoring us.”

Eid ul-Fitr, literally “the Feast of breaking the Fast,” marks the end of Ramadan. Eid ul-Adha, the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” honor’s Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. The two are considered to be the two main festivals in Islam.

The Proclamation states that:

WHEREAS,

• Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with 1.9 billion devotees worldwide and about 3.5 million in the United States, and Muslims are the fastest-growing demographic in the United States; and
• Muslim Americans are one of the most racially diverse groups in the United States, comprising African Americans, Asians, Arabs and Caucasians; and
• Muslims have inhabited the land of the United States since before the country's founding; Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States of America with the Treaty of Friendship in 1786, which remains America's longest-standing unbroken treaty; and
• Muslim Americans have excelled in many fields, including business, medicine, law, literature, arts, entertainment, sports; and
• Muslim Americans have played significant roles in the founding, development, and prosperity of the United States of America, with industry-leading entrepreneurs and executives across America's economy; and
• Muslims in Alabama are doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, and public servants, and they've played pivotal roles in enhancing the State's healthcare, education, technology, and arts and culture sectors; and
• Birmingham Islamic Society, the oldest Muslim Organization in the state of Alabama, owns and manages four Masjids in the Greater Birmingham Area.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RANDALL L. WOODFIN, MAYOR of the City of Birmingham, Alabama, do hereby proclaim EID-UL-FITR and EID-UL-ADHA as

Muslim Holidays

in the city of Birmingham, Alabama and encourage residents to reflect upon and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Muslim Americans and to continue working together to build a city rooted in understanding, equity, and shared humanity.

The City Council session where Mayor Woodfin and Patel addressed the Council may be seen at THIS LINK.

For more information on the Birmingham Islamic Society, visit bisweb.org.