Last Wednesday marked the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar in the Islamic calendar. For many Muslims across the globe, it marked the start of a month of fasting, prayer and service.
“Ramadan was started during the time of the prophet Muhammad, more than 1400 years ago,” Imam Fadhel Alahlani of Imam-Al Khoei Islamic Center of New York told URL Media partner Epicenter-NYC. “God ordered Muslims to fast for 30 days during the month.”
But the intentions of the daily fast are much deeper than just abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk.
“We’re purifying our soul,” Seeran Enayetullah, community outreach and enrollment coordinator at the Arab-American Family Support Center, told Epicenter-NYC in an interview. “We’re refocusing our attention on God. We’re just practicing self-discipline and self-sacrifice.”
At the end of each day, Muslims will break their fast with an iftar. It’s traditional for the fast to be broken with dried dates and water, as they believe that is how the prophet Muhammad broke his fast.
As a fellow at USC Annenberg last year, I was invited to a public iftar put together by one of my colleagues and dear friends on campus. We started the event with a prayer, joined our Muslim co-workers and students in breaking their fast by eating a date, and shared a wonderful meal in community with one another. This remains one of my most cherished memories from that year.
Along with abstaining from food and water, Muslims will spend the month bettering themselves, treating others with kindness and giving back to their communities.
Kausar Hussain, who founded a mental health advocacy nonprofit called Sukoon: Healing of The Minds, told URL Media partner Sahan Journal she would be supporting a trio of local organizations that focus on issues close to her heart: education, sisterhood, and social services.
“It’s always an honor to go to fundraisers within our community,” she said. “I have a whole list of events I’ve scheduled myself to go to. Being around the community and around people, that is something that gives you strength and gives you energy.”
In the spirit of community, I also wanted to highlight this insightful post from URL Media partner PushBlack about Elijah Muhammad, a Black Muslim man who created a safe space for Black Muslims in Philadelphia — a city once known as “Muslim Town.”
“The origins of Islam in Philadelphia can be traced back to the 1960s, when Black people converted to the Nation of Islam en masse, partly due to Elijah Muhammad’s influence,” PushBlack writes. “His bold approach and commentary on Black America’s most pressing issues led to a surge in NOI membership.”
I want to end this week’s essay with a call to action to support Muslim charities and organizations in your community. If you’re located in Minnesota, one organization you can support is the Gambian Association in Minnesota.
The group is trying to raise $200,000 for a down payment on a building that it can transform into a central hub for events and community services.
“Our priority is to, as a community, have a place to convey meetings — a place to bring the kids together, a place to interact and share resources,” Nfamara Dampha, president of the Gambian Association of Minnesota, told URL media partner Sahan Journal.
I hope everyone has a restful weekend, and Ramadan Mubarak to those who celebrate.
