Today, August 1st, marks the beginning of Ramadan, a holy month in the Muslim tradition. On the Islamic calendar, today is known as 1 Ramadan, 1432. Obviously, it's been 1,432 years since the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim faith was born.
Ever since I lived in Turkey, I have marked this month in some special way. Back then, I simply skipped lunch as a sign of support for my Turkish contractors who fasted. I also read the Qur'an at night, and the next day would ask questions about how the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the month of Ramadan, and the origins of the traditions that Muslims follow today.
One tradition that stuck with me is how all the people in the town on Sinop knew exactly when the daily fast began and ended. The Imam would stand in the minaret with two threads, one black and one white. Pre-dawn twilight was defined at that moment when, holding the threads at arms' length, he could first tell which was which. Then he would announce the call to prayer and the beginning of the fast. Just prior to this call, bands of drummers had gone through the streets to awaken everyone, so they could grab something to eat and drink before first light. Similarly at the end of the day, everyone waits and listens for the Imam to signal that he can no longer distinguish between the threads. A final prayer, and then wild celebrations until it was time to sleep.
Can you imagine living in a village where everyone willingly follows this pattern?
This year, I am simply recommending a good book. Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, by John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed. A documentary movie based on the global survey of Muslims called Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think, starring John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, is available. I read this book immediately after my sojourn in Iraq and I highly recommend it. I have not seen the movie but I will seek it out. Comments are welcome!
Because Muslim liturgical calendar follows the lunar cycles, Ramadan takes place a little earlier each year. The self-sacrifice of abstaining from all sensual pleasures between dawn and dusk is obviously more difficult in the longer days of summer. Let's be empathetic to our Muslim co-workers during this month, and maybe, if we're so inclined, read a book about Muslims that is not focused on just the 7% that are radicalized.
Please see the article "The Joys and Sorrows of Ramadan" by NYTimes.com at this link: http://nyti.ms/qhYGF6Ever since I lived in Turkey, I have marked this month in some special way. Back then, I simply skipped lunch as a sign of support for my Turkish contractors who fasted. I also read the Qur'an at night, and the next day would ask questions about how the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the month of Ramadan, and the origins of the traditions that Muslims follow today.
One tradition that stuck with me is how all the people in the town on Sinop knew exactly when the daily fast began and ended. The Imam would stand in the minaret with two threads, one black and one white. Pre-dawn twilight was defined at that moment when, holding the threads at arms' length, he could first tell which was which. Then he would announce the call to prayer and the beginning of the fast. Just prior to this call, bands of drummers had gone through the streets to awaken everyone, so they could grab something to eat and drink before first light. Similarly at the end of the day, everyone waits and listens for the Imam to signal that he can no longer distinguish between the threads. A final prayer, and then wild celebrations until it was time to sleep.
Can you imagine living in a village where everyone willingly follows this pattern?
This year, I am simply recommending a good book. Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, by John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed. A documentary movie based on the global survey of Muslims called Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think, starring John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, is available. I read this book immediately after my sojourn in Iraq and I highly recommend it. I have not seen the movie but I will seek it out. Comments are welcome!
Because Muslim liturgical calendar follows the lunar cycles, Ramadan takes place a little earlier each year. The self-sacrifice of abstaining from all sensual pleasures between dawn and dusk is obviously more difficult in the longer days of summer. Let's be empathetic to our Muslim co-workers during this month, and maybe, if we're so inclined, read a book about Muslims that is not focused on just the 7% that are radicalized.
Please also notice the five official prayer times for Muslims at the latitude of Washington, DC. No eating, drinking, smoking, or sensual pleasures of any kind from 4:45 am to 9:45 pm. Every day. For a month.
| Fajr | Sunrise | Dhuhr | Asr | Maghrib | Isha | |
| Washington, DC | 4:45 | 6:09 | 1:15 | 5:07 | 8:20 | 9:45 |
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