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Last Updated: Sep 25th, 2006 - 11:36:04 |
Dr. Naseer A. Tahir always gets questions about his faith during Ramadan, which begins today (Saturday) and Sunday for more than 1 billion Muslims around the world.
Tahir, of Penfield, and other members of the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community decided because of the many questions they receive during the holy month of Ramadan, this year's holiday would be the perfect time to share their religion with others.
"We want to use this as an opportunity to give our views, to start some dialogue with the community around us," said Tahir, who is president of the mosque's community. The group handed out or mailed more than 600 invitations to special Ramadan programs at the mosque.
Ramadan also embodies Islamic faith at its best, said Yahya Luqman, the congregation's imam, making this month an ideal time to share the religion with others.
The holiday commemorates the revelation of the Quran to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which occurred over years during the ninth month — Ramadan — of the Islamic calendar.
Because the Islamic calendar follows the cycles of the moon and the Gregorian calendar follows the revolutions of Earth around the sun, Ramadan comes about 10 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Muslims typically eat a meal before dawn and another after sunset during Ramadan. Tahir's wife, Roofi Tahir, says their family rises about 90 minutes before dawn each day to share a hearty breakfast including eggs, dense bread and potatoes.
Although children are not required to fast (as well as adults who are sick, pregnant, breast-feeding or traveling), they often rise before dawn, too, because the cooking smells are enticing.
The daytime fasting is meant to help practitioners remember the trials of the poor. "You can see if there are people hungry in the world, how they go through every day," said Daud Manawar, another member of the Ahmadiyya Community.
During Ramadan, Muslims recite portions of the Quran each night, attempting to recite the entire work during the month. Their faith also directs them to make efforts to be charitable and do good deeds at this time.
In the last 10 days of the month, some members will spend the entire time in the mosque praying, as that time is believed to be especially blessed.
In Muhammad's time, Luqman said, "as the end of Ramadan approached, the Prophet would be even more charitable in his works."
During Ramadan, families break their fast with dates, just as Muhammad did in the seventh century, and a snack before evening prayers. They follow the prayers with a larger meal, usually featuring family or regional favorites, and then go to the mosque for group worship.
"There's more blessing in praying in congregation," Roofi Tahir said.
The month ends with Eid-ul-Fitr, a three-day festival in which families visit each other and gifts are exchanged.
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