The True Meaning of Ramadan

Heba Diab hurriedly joined the five other Muslim women facing the front of the prayer room of the mosque on Comstock Ave. in Syracuse, N.Y. She was almost late, and the 22-year-old took a deep breath and bowed her head to calm herself. For the next 10 minutes, she listened to passages from the Quran and whispered prayers as she stood, bowed at the waist and knelt with head to the floor.

This is a scene that takes place in mosques around the country every evening. However, during the month of Ramadan, the scene expands to include many who are at best indifferent in joining others of the Ummah, the community of believers, in prayer. This is because Ramadan has special meaning for Muslims the world over.

Ramadan is the holy month of fasting for those who practice Islam. Its stated purpose is one of renewal and connection with God. This year Muslims all over the world will eat nothing, drink nothing (including water) and shun intercourse from sunrise to sunset for an entire month. They won't even smoke during daylight hours. At night, the day's fast is broken with dinner.

Atika Abdur-rahim grew up in Brooklyn's Arab Town. She remembers weekly community dinners every Friday during Ramadan.

"You could break fast with others any night of the week," she said. "The mosque usually had a little something. But on Fridays, it was time for feasting and fun."

Abdur-rahim smiled as she recalled the foods of many cultures. "Food from Pakistan, Yemen, India, Saudi Arabia, Africa. It's all different. What a great way to learn about other cultures and come together with our faith in common."

Foudil Selmoune, the assistant Imam at the mosque in Syracuse, said food is planned for each night of Ramadan.

"The sense of community worship is important," he said. "It helps us bond as brothers and sisters. Especially here in America. It's good to see others who feel as you do."

Selmoune said that fasting during Ramadan is more than going without food. "It's about showing our submission to God, Allah, and bringing ourselves closer to him," he said.