In Harlem, the sound of the Eid Salah prayer, which marks the conclusion of the 30-day fast of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid, can be heard for blocks. The identical call to prayer will be heard once more in an hour. The in-between moments have gained new meaning, largely due to social media. It used to be a time of calm expectation, but now it spills out onto the streets around the mosque. Many people no longer view the morning gathering as only a holy time of prayer followed by a hasty exit. Since many people get together with people in their communities and flaunt their best Eid attire, it has transformed into a show of solidarity.
When the hashtag #BlackoutEid went viral in the middle of the 2010s, the social media habit of posting pictures of oneself wearing Eid attire first appeared on X, formerly Twitter. The event quickly gained notoriety as the “Muslim Met Gala” after Muslims in the African diaspora, especially those in Harlem, started posting pictures of themselves dressed traditionally. Ever since, the hashtag has become more popular every year. Wearing abayas, thobes, and bazins in a variety of vivid hues, elaborate decorations, designs, and flowing silhouettes, those who indulged proudly posed in front of their mosques. Even though it’s not required, dressing up has become a beloved custom, a kind of unofficial “fit off,” that provides a unique chance to highlight modesty and symbols of Asian and African culture.
