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id finalizes month of fasting, contemplation
BY BETH FOCHT
The Battalion
F or a month, millions of Muslims across
the world, from all different back
grounds and countries have been re
fraining from eating and drinking. However, to
day marks the end of the month of fasting,
Ramadan, and the beginning of Eid, a cele
bration much like the joyous atmosphere
that surrounds Christmas.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the
Muslim calendar, which began on De
cember 19, 1998. During this month,
Muslims fast, which is refraining
from eating, drinking and sexual re
lations from sunrise to sunset. This is
a time for Muslims to concentrate on
faith and contemplation.
Noareen Islam, a sophomore civil
engineering major, said during Ra
madan, Muslims take the time away
from the regularities of life to concen
trate on God and his gifts to mankind.
“We fast as a constant reminder of
the mercies of God,” Islam said. “God
is always on your mind because we
cannot even have a drink of water
during the day. Ramadan is also a re
minder of how many things we can
take for granted in our everyday
lives. ”
Fasting during this month brings
the awareness pf the suffering of oth
ers and allows Muslims to explore
the depths of kindness, right-
eousness and moral excellency
; in themselves.
Hisham Yousef, president of
[ the Islamic Community of
i Bryan-College Station, said fast-
* ing is also abstaining from inde
cent acts.
“Along with the fasting of food
and drink, there is to be no lying,
cheating and talking bad about oth
ers,” he said. “This fasting is so Mus
lims are able to gain control of them
selves and so they are able to carry
on the duties as a good and righteous
person.”
At sunset, the fast is broken
with a prayer and a meal called if-
tar, following the example of
Prophet Muhammad. Later in the
evening, Muslims gather together
to offer Taraweeh (optional)
prayers and recite the Holy Qur’an
in an attempt to finish it by the end
of the month of Ramadan.
Islam said it has become a custom for her
family to join many other families at the Mosque
for iftar, the breaking of the fast.
“We all have dinner together, and then every
one prays together,” she said. “It is very cool to
see so many different types and races of people
coming together to pray to God.”
The end of the month is marked with a three-
day celebration called Eid. Eid is know as the Fes
tival of Fast-Breaking.
The main festivities occurring on the first day
of Eid begin in the morning with a prayer, a short
sermon, eating foods and visiting with friends
and families.
Yousef said the reason for Eid is to celebrate
the end of the month of fasting.
“Everyone is very happy during Eid,” he said.
“They are happy to complete the fasting, and
they are happy to have completed the objectives
of this fasting.”
Eid is celebrated differently in other areas of
the world. While one family in the United States
celebrates one way, Muslims in another country
do it differently.
Islam said in Bangladesh, where her family is
from, the celebration is different because
Bangladesh is an Islamic country and all the peo
ple are participating and celebrating Ramadan
and Eid.
“The best comparison is to Christmas,” she
said. “Families get up early, before dawn, begin
cooking and later you visit your Neighbors and
just celebrate. It is wonderful to have had the op
portunity to celebrate Ramadan in a country
where everyone is practicing the same religion
and is enjoying the same holiday and
encing the same emotions.”
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