Stamp of Unity
USPS Celebrates Islamic Holiday

Listen as Scott Simon talks with Mohamed Zakariya about the Islam stamp.

Nov. 3, 2001 -- The United States Postal Service has issued a stamp celebrating Islam. Although the stamp was planned more than a year ago, it carries new meaning in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The new stamp celebrating Islam.

The stamp was issued Sept. 1. It celebrates Id al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. It's part of a series honoring Christmas, Hanukkah, Cinco de Mayo, and several other international holidays.

"Id Mubarak," the stamp's gilt script reads. "It's basically shorthand for 'may your religious holiday be blessed'," explains Mohamed Zakariya, who designed the stamp.

Zakariya, an American convert to Islam who lives in Arlington, Va., says the stamp carries a lot more meaning in the post-Sept. 11 world.

"The concept that America is some kind of a diabolical country -- this one little stamp isn't going to repudiate that," he says. "But nevertheless, people ought to be paying attention. This is a country where amazing things can happen.