Monday, August 24 2009
Ramadhan
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll have noticed that I have a certain fascination with the religious observations and celebrations of many different cultures. My people (Mennonites) are very happy and merry in their own way, but might appear a bit dour to outsiders. That's always niggled at me, because I think if you got to know us, you'd like us (well some of us, I hope!) The obverse of that is true as well: the more I know about other religious traditions and cultures, the more great people I get to know.
One religion I'm learning more about is Islam. I have to admit that until very recently I was more or less ignorant of the details of the faith--a Eurocentric view of history in school and a little bit of news snippets over the years left me without a real clue. With the Islamic prohibition against consuming alcohol it's not like I was going to meet a lot of Muslims in the course of business either!
Luckily for me my neighborhood has been welcoming more and more of the faithful over the years and I've had the pleasure of getting to know them, and learn a bit more. When I was younger I felt awkward and shy about asking what might be dumb questions, but it's actually very easy, and very rewarding to go right up and chat. Nobody is offended by friendly curiosity and the spirit of fellowship, and so far everyone has been eager to share information and insights into their faith and culture.
The crescent is the symbol of Islam
August 22nd marks the start of the Muslim observation of رمضان, Ramadhan. The 9th month by the Islamic calendar, it represents a sort of new year's month, where Muslims all over the world spend 30 days fasting and working to be better people and more observant in principles of faith.
Of course, nobody could go 30 days without eating! The point of fasting is to instill discipline over body and mind, not keel over with hunger. Fasting is done during daylight hours, with meals taken at night. The removal of food from the daily routine is seen as an opportunity to focus on prayer and worship, and reminds the observers to be grateful for the lives they lead.
Observers also take the opportunity to study the Qur'an and understand it more closely, and work to avoid any activities that are haraam (prohibited). These include smoking, cursing, consuming alcohol or drugs, disrespect toward others, cruelty, discourtesy and selfishness. Those sound like a lot of the new year's eve resolutions I've made in the past.
At the end of Ramadhan is Eid ul-Fitr, the celebration of the breaking of the fast. Different countries and cultures celebrate in different ways, but most of them have a wonderful family feast with treats and delicacies and a lot of happiness to go around.
For an insight into the process of following the fast, from the perspective of a non-Muslim, check out the BBC Birmingham blog by Clare Edwards, who is observing Ramadhan this year. I'm following along to see how she makes out, and I'm finding it pretty interesting.
One thing it took me days to find out was if it was all right for me to wish people I knew 'Happy Ramadhan'. It's not on the internet--what if it was a faux-pas? Finally I tracked down my friend Mo and asked him. He thought it was hilarious: "Of course! Nobody will be offended, and many will be pleased that you know of it at all."
Mo, Samira, Haddad and everyone else, Happy Ramadhan to you!
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