The following is a release from CAIR Washington:

A team of more than 40 Bothell area Muslims will take part in the 2016 Bothell Fourth of July parade in Bothell today.

The Muslim team will carry banners, American flags, and will include families with young children, nurses, teachers, and community leaders. Many participants will wear T-shirts with U.S. flags and women will wear headscarves with U.S. flags imprinted. Many of the group members will hand candy to parade watchers.

Most adults in the group will be fasting, as this year July 4 falls during Ramadan, a month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from before dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the “five pillars” of Islam.

The end of Ramadan will be marked by “Eid ul-Fitr” to be celebrated by American Muslims on or about July 6, which includes communal prayers as well as family gatherings, gift exchanges, etc.

“American Muslims are part and parcel of American society and inspired by our faith, give back to society every day,” said Syed G. Mustafa, a Bothell resident and organizer of the Muslim contingent. “My wife and I love living in Bothell, and what we love even more is watching our grand-children grow up to be productive members of society and proud Americans. July 4 is a great day for us to be among hundreds of fellow Americans.”

He also said that American Muslims are the most diverse religious group in America, according to a 2009 Gallup Poll, and that American Muslim women are the second highest religious group of women in the U.S. They are also as likely as American Muslim men to have at least a bachelor’s degree.