Muslims begin Ramadan

Monthlong daylight fast celebrates faith, reminds Muslims of need for charity

By Eisa Al Nashmi

For Muslims, fasting during the month of Ramadan is more than just abstaining from food, drink and sexual activity during the daylight hours.

It is a time for Muslims to purify their hearts and souls by remembering Allah (God), unifying the community and strengthening their brotherhood and sisterhood.

Today marks the first day of the holiest and most spiritual month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Ramadan is a month during which Muslims don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset.

They increase their religious practices, try to avoid immoral behavior and show compassion to people around them, said Imam Ahmed Behairy, the prayer leader of the Fresno Mosque on Shaw Avenue across from campus.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, in addition to the announcement of faith (proclaiming there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger), practicing the five daily prayers, making a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca and giving annually to the poor and needy.

Behairy said Ramadan is a special month in Islam because it marks the revelation of the holy Quran, the book Allah brought Muslims to guide them to the right path.

Allah said in the Quran, “Oh, you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for the people before you, so that you may acquire self-control and God-consciousness.”

Behairy said Ramadan is not only about depriving oneself of food and drink. It has many social, physical and moral benefits behind it.

Fasting creates hunger and thirst, so Muslims will be aware of the plight of the poor and needy.

“When people taste the sufferings of the poor for just one day, they would realize how hard it is to live under poverty,” Behairy said. “So Muslims have social responsibility to help their brothers and sisters who are poor, needy and orphaned.”

Behairy said many diseases are caused by the type and amount of food you eat.

Fasting improves health by reducing or eliminating impurities from the body.

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, once said, “Keep fasting because it will better your health.”

Behairy said fasting also creates order, unity and discipline in the Muslim community.

“Muslims begin fasting at the same time, break their fast at the same time and pray together at the same time,” he said. “This creates unity and peace in the community and removes hatred or envy from Muslims’ souls.”

Abdulraheem Norman, a Fresno Mosque committee member and a Fresno State alumnus, said the mosque is the “heart” of all Muslims during the month of Ramadan. The mosque usually fills up because Muslims come together to pray and attend daily religious lectures. Muslims also come at sunset to break their fast and eat together.

Norman said the mosque will have group iftars (food when Muslims break the fast) everyday. People from the community usually provide food or donate money to cover one iftar.

“Muslims come together and always increase their generosity during Ramadan,” Norman said. “They are always happy to give and support the mosque.”

Norman said the unique thing about the mosque is the diverse, yet united atmosphere it creates during Ramadan.

“You see people from all over the world doing the same thing you do,” Norman said. “People who come from different countries, come from different cultures or speak different languages come together and pray for one God.”

Unis Salmean, a Fresno State student from Kuwait, said he enjoys Ramadan because the month increases his spirituality.

“Fasting fulfills and strengthens my character by forcing me to replace bad deed with good ones,” Salmean said, adding that he misses the Ramadan atmosphere in his home country.

“Ramadan in Kuwait is so much fun,” he said. “Almost everyone fasts in Kuwait, so it is very exciting to see that all people are experiencing the fasting mood.”

Salmean said families always get together when they break their fast. “Food is so delicious in Ramadan because people put so much time in cooking.”

Salmean said fasting is much easier in Kuwait because the government reduces work and school schedules. People go to work later than usual and finish early.

“Because we don’t work or go to school as much as we usually do, we spend more time hanging out with our family and friends and going to the mosque.”

Salmean said the situation is different in the U.S. People are very busy with school and work, so you don’t get to spend more time with friends. He also said you don’t get the same food quality as in Kuwait.

Even with the tight schedule, Salmean said he is happy to see that Muslims frequently come to the mosque and experience the joy of fasting together.

Suzanne Farsakh, a health science student at Fresno State, said a day in Ramadan is just like other days, only she spends more time reading the Quran and praying.

When she comes back from school, Farsakh said she usually helps her mom with the cooking.

Her family then has iftar together.

At night, Farsakh meets her friends at the mosque where they attend the night congregation.

“We eat a variety of dishes that you would usually serve for guests,” she said. “It is food that takes so much time to cook.”

Behairy, the Imam of the Fresno Mosque, said fasting is only prescribed for adults who are physically able to fast. The elderly, the sick, people who are traveling and pregnant women who are nursing are permitted to break their fast.

Allah said in the Quran, “Allah intends for you ease and he doesn’t want to make things difficult for you.”

At the completion of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world celebrate their holiday of Eid-Alfutir.

It is a true thanksgiving for a Muslim for having the opportunity to obey Allah by fasting the month.

“Eid-Alfutir is the present of God after Ramadan for Muslims to enjoy,” Behairy said.

Behairy said the holiday begins with Muslims putting on their best clothes and going to Eid Congregation—very large gathering of Muslim men, women and children.

People greet each other with hugs, kisses and handshakes, and children receive gifts.

Norman said the Fresno Community holds an Eid Congregation every year. About 2,000 Muslims attended the last congregation.