9/25/2009 - Nearly 3,000 Muslims gathered on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Friday for a mass Muslim prayer service organized by Imam Ali Jaaber of Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth, NJ.
2025: Muslims observing Ramadan gathered in Manhattan’s Times Square to break their fast at 7:00 p.m. 2000 free iftar meals (containing dates, water, pizza, and gyro sandwiches) were served to Muslims on the sidewalks in partnership with food sponsors. Later that evening hundreds of Muslims participated in tarawih تراويح - special Sunnah prayers involving reading long portions of the Qur’an, as well as performing many rak'ah ركعة - cycles of movement involved in Islamic prayer at Times Square. A projector displayed verses from the Qur’an as they were recited by the gathered masses, along with English translations. The event ended at 11:00 p.m. Reportedly, the event took place during the weekend and was organized by Muslim social media influencer SQ in collaboration with nonprofit organizations named Muslims Giving Back and Droplets of Mercy. The organizer stated to the local media that Muslims who live in the United States want to celebrate Ramadan at this iconic location in the middle of New York City so that they may demonstrate to others that Islam is a religion that promotes peace. New York Mayor Eric Adams approved Muslims to mass pray at Times Square in the evenings of the month of Ramadan.