Thousands attend 'Super Eid' prayer service at US Bank Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Muslims across the Twin Cities are celebrating one of their biggest holidays Tuesday in the prayer service known as Eid. 

Dozens of Islamic centers have joined together to hold prayers U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. They are calling it “Super Eid” and more than 20,000 people are expected to attend. 

The Islamic holy day of Eid, known as the "festival of the sacrifice" celebrates the prophet Abraham, as he is called in the Christian and Jewish faiths. The Islamic faith holds two Eids each year, one after the month of Ramadan and on that marks the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

“At the time of Christmas families come together and enjoy together, they celebrate together, they eat food together, and it’s like that,” Ahmed Anshure, one of the organizers of Super Eid, said at a press conference Monday. “It’s a time of joy and a time of celebration.” 

The religious gathering is the second of its kind at U.S. Bank Stadium after Pulse, an Evangelical Christian movement, hosted a concert event on May 18.  

“Our interfaith allies are welcome to participate in the prayer or to just watch the prayer,” said Imam Asad Zaman with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota. “They can do either, whichever they are compelled to do." 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on police to boost security for the event, citing recent anti-Muslim vandalism and hateful comments on social media. The Minneapolis Police Department said they always have extra staffing for large-scale events like this. 

The gates open at 7 a.m. for the free event. The first prayer starts at 9 a.m. with a second prayer at 10 a.m. There will be a carnival outside the stadium at The Commons from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.