On July 8, Muslims all over the world are starting a daily fast for the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and it's during this month that Muslims must fast from dawn until dusk, refrain from bad behavior, maintain good relations with others and add extra worship into their daily routines.
Avoiding bad behaviors such as gossiping and doing extra acts of worship such as saying extra prayers is important, but fasting is one of the five basic, obligatory acts of Islam, said Ziad Akir, director of distance learning at Washington Community College and volunteer imam for the Islamic Center.
Fasting is also important because it is the only form of worship done for Allah alone, and it helps with self-control, said Sarah El-Dabaja, a member of the Muslim Students Association and a graduate student studying civil engineering.
“Fasting teaches us that we can survive without eating all day and that Allah is the true source of sustenance,” El-Dabaja said.
During the month there are special days to celebrate, but the holiest night of Ramadan actually doesn’t have an exact date, El-Dabaja explained.
“The night of Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Decree, is believed to be the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him),” she said. “No one knows the exact date of this blessed night, but it occurs on one of the odd-numbered nights during the last 10 days of the month.”
Eid al-Fitr, festival of breaking of the fast, falls on Aug. 7 this year and marks the end of Ramadan. It is celebrated with an Eid (holiday) prayer in the morning and a holiday meal, and can last for up to three days.
MSA and the Islamic Center of Athens have organized Iftar meals to break the fast at sunset on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during Ramadan, and anyone is welcome to come for the meals, Akir said.
Sometimes fasting can be difficult to do in Athens, or the U.S. in general, because often gatherings revolve around food and drink, said Omar Kurdi, communications chair for MSA and a junior studying political science.
Another problem is the length of the day, especially in summer, he added.
But many of the difficulties are merely tests of willpower, El-Dabaja said.
“Many Muslims do not view fasting as a hardship, but rather as a chance to strengthen their faith and purify their souls,” she said. “Spending a whole month worshipping, reading Quran and upholding high moral standards helps us to refocus our daily lives to include more of a spiritual component.”
ao007510@ohiou.edu
