Ramadan time for spiritual cleansing, fasting for Muslims

While Iman Moawad starts her fasting at the same time each day, chances are that her family… While Iman Moawad starts her fasting at the same time each day, chances are that her family in Saudi Arabia is most likely breaking its fast at the same time.

Millions of others all over the world are taking the same actions as Moawad and her family.

It is this sense of unity that makes Ramadan special to Moawad, a Muslim.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and Muslims believe that the first verses of the Quran, their holy book, were revealed to the world during this time.

This year, it started on Sept. 23 and will end this upcoming Sunday.

The month is intended to provide the opportunity for Muslims to achieve a sense of spiritual purity and closeness to God, according to Ammar Ahmad, co-vice president of the Muslim Student Association.

In order to spiritually clean themselves, Muslims increase their focus on worship and prayer and practice self-restraint and doing away with bad habits.

Fasting, a large focus of the holy month, is one way to carry out self-restraint. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for 30 days, and they must abstain from such things as eating, drinking any substance, gossiping and fighting.

Sundas Kamboh, a student who observes Ramadan, said she feels connected to less fortunate people in the world.

“Fasting reminds us of all the poor people out in the world today and how they are struggling with their lives,” Kamboh said. “We get to share a part of our lives with them in fasting.

Moawad said that it is difficult to sit through classes because she is tired from the lack of coffee and food, both of which provide energy.

The fasting reminds her of Thanksgiving in a way because it makes her grateful for the food that she usually takes for granted, Moawad said.

Oftentimes Muslims gather with family and friends at night to break their fast. They may begin and end this time, known as If tar, with prayer. They also eat dinner together. If tar is, therefore, a special time when they can create a sense of community and share their holy experiences with one another, said Noreen Hossain, treasurer of the Muslim Student Association.

In Saudi Arabia, Moawad said she can remember restaurants being closed during the day yet opened at night during Ramadan. She also remembered families coming together at these restaurants.

Moawad still tries to break the fast with friends at least once or twice a week by going over to each other’s houses or by going to restaurants together.

Muslims are also encouraged to become more charitable during Ramadan, like giving away old clothes or feeding the homeless. Moawad said she remembers that some of her friends would cook together, and then others would go out and deliver that food to other people like the poor.

She also said that there is a tradition in the Middle East in which a family will buy a cow and keep one-third of it, then give the rest to the homeless.

Acts of charity and sharing are supposed to provide more points into heaven for Muslims, according to Moawad. The more good one does, the more likely he will be accepted into heaven.

Once Ramadan ends, a three-day celebration known as Eid-ul-Fitr begins.

Ahmed normally goes to a mosque to pray and then attends a large brunch where the community gathers to celebrate the final breaking of the fast for the month.

The community usually gives gifts such as money and clothing to each other as well, Moawad said.

Hossain finds there are many occasions throughout Ramadan and into Eid-ul-Fitr for family, friends and the Muslim community to come together.

“It’s a time to get closer with family and friends,” Hossain said. “And to be a part of something bigger with millions of Muslims celebrating it all over the world.”