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Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009

Lexington's Muslim community welcomes start of Ramadan

Ramadan, the most important month for Muslims around the world, begins this weekend with the sighting of the new moon.

Mahmoud Shalash, the imam of the Islamic Center of Lexington, which is on Nicholasville Road across from the University of Kentucky, says excitement among the area's several thousand Muslims has been growing for weeks.

"This is the month when the heart gets soft," he said. "You read the Quran more often, you remember Allah more often, you tend to come to the mosque more often to pray in congregation."

It also is a time for giving to charity, and developing a better understanding of people who are less fortunate.

Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month when the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven." Many Muslims try to read the entire Quran during the month.

The timing of the observance is based on the Hijri, or lunar, calendar.

Unlike the Christian observances of Christmas, which is held on the same day every year, or Easter, which moves back and forth on the calendar, Ramadan comes 10 days earlier each year.

Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month. Because Ramadan moves, the length of the daily fast varies greatly — from the shortest day, in December, to the longest, in June.

Fasting means no food, water, smoking or sex.

Almost everyone above the age of puberty is required to fast.

And most who are exempted — people who are traveling, women who are menstruating, pregnant women or people who are sick — have to make up the missed days later. A terminally ill person doesn't have to make up the fast, but is expected to give to charity.

If a woman is exempted from fasting, Shalash said, she will not eat in front of other members of her family.

Muslims will rise before dawn for a morning meal during Ramadan. They often come together with others for another meal that night.

"You know, when the whole community is fasting, the environment is conducive for you to bear the fast," Shalash said. "Nobody's eating, nobody's drinking, nobody's having lunch."

For children of high school age in a public school, Ramadan means staying out of the cafeteria. Shalash said teachers have been very understanding when his children were fasting. They sometimes stay in the classroom with the child during the lunch period, he said.

Non-Muslims who come into contact with Muslims at work or school should be aware of Ramadan and the fasting requirement, he said.

"Don't say 'Can I get you anything?'" Shalash said. "Don't invite them to lunch."

Muslims believe that fasting draws them closer to Allah.

"This is really a beautiful season for people to commit to Allah, to try to increase his account upstairs with deeds, not with dollars," Shalash said.

Eating a huge meal before the sun rises or after it sets is not good, he said.

"The purpose is for you to get hungry," he said. "If you don't get hungry, something is wrong."

Muslims regard Ramadan as many people think of New Year's Day, Shalash said. It is a time to resolve to do better. Like New Year's resolutions, he said, the changes started during Ramadan often don't last.

The daily Ramadan fast often is broken with a date (because the prophet Muhammad broke his fast with dates) or a sip of milk or water, Shalash said.

The month ends with a celebration called Eid ul-Fitr.

Muslims in Lexington hold the celebration at Heritage Hall, and about 2,000 people attend.