By Julie BUTCHER

This year Ramadan starts on the evening of Friday, May 26 and continues until sundown on the evening of Sunday, June 25. Ramadan is not just a day. For the world’s Muslims, it is the holiest month of the entire year. Celebrated for the full month of Ramadan, the faithful fast from sunrise to sunset each day, focus on faith and prayer, on reflection, reconnection, peace, and rebuilding, and avoid physical pleasures such as caffeine, sex and smoking.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is lunar and based on the phases of the moon. As a result, Ramadan does not start on the same date each year and instead, over time, passes through all the seasons. While Muslim holidays are always the same day on the Muslim calendar, they occur on different days on the Gregorian calendar – typically moving 11 or 12 days earlier each year. For example, Ramadan began on June 6 in 2016.

Ramadan is celebrated as the month when the first verses of the Quran were said to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE. “Laylat al-Qadr,” Night of Power, is the actual day when Muslims believe that God sent the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad and revealed the first verse: “the Quran was sent down as a guidance for the people” (Quran 2:185).

According to Muslims, Muhammad is the final prophet in a line of prophets that includes Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, chosen by God to act as messengers to teach mankind. Muslims believe there is one all-knowing God, and that people can achieve salvation by following his commandments. In Arabic, “Islam” means “submission” or “surrender” (to God).

Islam is the world’s second largest religion, with an estimated 1.6 billion followers as of 2010. Countries with the largest Muslim populations include Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey and Iran. There is an estimated seven million Muslims in America, and there are Islamic places of worship, called masjids or mosques, in all 50 states.

The Five Pillars of Islam are fundaments of the religion. They are: 1) Shahadah (a declaration of faith): “There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”); 2) Salat (prayer) (Muslims pray five times a day); 3) Zakat (charitable giving); 4) Sawm: fasting during Ramadan; and 5) Hajj, a pilgrimage (Muslims are supposed to make a trip to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able).

Farzana Hakimi is originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, and came to the U.S. at 20 years old. She lives in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from CSUN, and works as a social worker with the County’s Dept. of Children & Family Services (DCFS). She explained what the holiday means to her.

“I deeply cherish the month of Ramadan. We as Muslims are expected to abstain from food, drinks and desires while fasting from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. But is that all Ramadan is about? Definitely not! There is so much more to it.

“It is the spirit of Ramadan that makes all Muslims come together as one community. The whole month, there is an air of calm and serenity where people leave behind the sins of the past and try to do the good that God Almighty expects of us. It is almost like turning over a new leaf, time to reconnect and seek forgiveness. When we abstain from the worldly material needs and desires, it allows us to bond with God much more easily.

“It is time to pay more attention to our self-discipline. I am keeping a check on my actions and thoughts. It is sometimes easy to get frustrated but the month of Ramadan demands something ‘otherwise.’

“Muslims should keep their peace within themselves and with the people they interact with because not only does God love those who fulfill their duty towards Him but He also loves those who abstain from wrong-doing and care for their duty towards others. We expect the same thing from others.

“Ramadan allows us to feel the pain of those brothers and sisters who live in poverty and cannot afford even the very basic human needs.

“While she is not required to fast until she reaches puberty, my 9-year-old daughter likes to give it a try, maybe fasting half a day now and then to get used to it. She is so eager to do it. Last Ramadan, she fasted four half days and enjoyed getting up early to have the special rich colorized breakfast of Ramadan with Mommy and Daddy. In our family, preparing our dinner/fast- breaking time is filled with love and eagerness. Our kitchen looks glamorous and smells deliciously awesome.”

The meal that is eaten pre-dawn on each day of Ramadan is called suhoor. Each evening, Muslims traditionally break their fasts as the Prophet Muhammad did 1,400 years ago with a sip of water and dates. The evening meal is known as iftar and it is typically shared with family and friends. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr.

During the last few days of Ramadan, Muslims donate a certain amount of food, called Zakat al-Fitr (charity of breaking the fast), to the poor to celebrate Eid. In many Muslim countries, it is common to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless; in some places, there are large public areas for the poor to break their fasts.

Eid al-Fitr (or Eid ul-Fitr), the Feast of Fast-Breaking, begins the day after Ramadan ends and lasts for three days. Eid al-Fitr includes special prayers and meals with friends and relatives, and gifts are often exchanged. Eid al Fitr is a time of reverence as Muslims pray to Allah (God) for helping them get through the month and to ask for forgiveness for their sins. On the day of Eid, it is forbidden to fast.

Early in the morning of Eid, Muslims typically eat a small breakfast then join prayers either outside or at a masjid. After the sermon, Muslims say the prayer, Salat al-Eid, which can only be recited with others.

Though Eid celebrations are similar in most places, many countries around the world flavor the holiday with their own traditions.

In Turkey, Eid is called Ramazan Bayram, meaning Ramadan Feast, or seker Bayram, which means “sugar feast” for the sweet foods such as baklava that are typically eaten. Reverence for the elderly is particularly emphasized during this period, and older citizens are greeted with a kiss to their right hand.

Eid is referred to as Idul Fitri or Lebaran in Indonesia. During the holiday, many Indonesian Muslims visit the graves of deceased family members where they clean the gravesite and pray.

The Philippines is the only Christian country recognize Eid as a national holiday, known as Wakas ng Ramadan. The national holiday was declared to promote unity between Filipino Muslims and the rest of the population.

Traditional greetings during Eid are Eid Mubarak, which means “Blessed Eid,” and Eid Said, meaning “Happy Eid.”

The traditional Ramadan greeting is “Ramadan Mubarak” (May God give you a blessed month) and the common reply is “Ramadan Kareem” (May God give you a generous month).

Each year, the U.S. military organizes forums in advance of Ramadan to build interfaith relationships and increase understanding. At a panel discussion for “Airmen, Marines, Sailors and coalition partners co-located with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group” on May 10, 2017, at an “undisclosed location,” Staff Sgt. Alexander Riedel reported: “The speakers shared an early example of breaking the fast by sharing dates with those in attendance and left their audience with a simple tip on how to positively support those actively participating in Ramadan – by using the friendly phrase ‘Ramadan Kareem – to you and your family,’ as a way to share well-wishes with friends and co-workers.”

“Ramadan is a very important part of our religion and culture,” said Bana Azizi, one of the volunteer presenters. “It is a time of sacrifice but also of spiritual (focus) and charity. It is a beautiful time.”

“Ramadan is a good reminder for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to strengthen one’s relationships,” Chaplain (Capt) Rob Pitts, the 407th AEG chaplain said. “For some, the relationship with God and relationships with others are keys to spiritual fitness.”

“There is great power in understanding people’s diverse backgrounds,” Pitts said. “Many of us may not practice Islam, so this was a great opportunity for us to build bridges of understanding and awareness.

“Not everyone is alike,” Pitts continued. “We all have different backgrounds and stories to share. But when we come together to accomplish the mission, in a unity of effort, that diversity brings a lot of strength to the table.

“I believe there are a lot more similarities than there are differences between all people,” Azizi added. “And if we can bridge some gaps, increase some understanding, it can build common ground for us to understand and respect each other – and ultimately allows us to celebrate our differences.”

Also in early May, Sheikh Hamdy Sadek of the Islamic Center of Glendale offered his thoughts on the upcoming celebration of Ramadan: “For 23 years, piece-by-piece,” the holy man reflected upon the story of the years of the delivery of the Quran. Regarding this Ramadan upcoming, he implored, “First, we must fix what we break. Second, we must act with full intention. What if this is your last Ramadan? I urge you to pray as if you’re saying your last prayer. That will make your fast so much better. Act as if this was the last month of this life. Fast but feed the needy. Stop fighting. Use maximum will-power to focus on prayer. Fix your relationship with the Quran. Read and study.”

The following advice has been proffered for those wishing to be supportive of friends, co-workers, and employees who are celebrating Ramadan:

1. Be aware of the basics around Ramadan, the dates, the details, and the requirements; be conscious and respectful.

2. Understand that “fasting” does not mean dieting.

Some Muslims say the month is sometimes confused with a kind of dietary “detox” but that this is a misinterpretation.

3. Be sensitive to the possible effects of abstinence on Muslim friends.

“I’ve found controlling anger and language (among other things) to be much more challenging while fasting than anything else,” Adeel Arif said in an online forum.

“I find that I get very cranky due to hunger and thirst, and controlling that takes some effort.

“So, if I could ask non-Muslims anything, it would just be to deal with us with a bit more patience, and try to avoid getting into arguments with us.

“But those are things that we need to be working on more than you do!”

4. Understand that the month is not necessarily an unpleasant experience. Respect the spirituality of the celebration.

5. Try not to eat, smoke and drink in front of those fasting.

“What you can do to help is not tempt [Muslims observing Ramadan] or talk about delicious food deliberately, and definitely do not smoke or drink in front of them,” Fizza Jaffer said on Quora.

“Also, you might just cook something for your friend for the Iftar to celebrate a successful fasting day!”

America’s first mosque was built by Lebanese immigrants in North Dakota in the 1920s. The mosque was torn down in the 1970s and later replaced. What is believed to be the oldest surviving mosque in the U.S. was constructed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the 1930s.

In 1996, then-first lady Hillary Clinton hosted the first Eid al-Fitr dinner at the White House. President Bill Clinton continued the tradition throughout the rest of his time in office.

His successor, President George W. Bush, hosted an iftar at the White House in 2001 and continued the dinners every year of his two terms in power. President Barack Obama followed suit, hosting his first White House Ramadan dinner in August 2010. By Julie BUTCHER

This year Ramadan starts on the evening of Friday, May 26 and continues until sundown on the evening of Sunday, June 25. Ramadan is not just a day. For the world’s Muslims, it is the holiest month of the entire year. Celebrated for the full month of Ramadan, the faithful fast from sunrise to sunset each day, focus on faith and prayer, on reflection, reconnection, peace, and rebuilding, and avoid physical pleasures such as caffeine, sex and smoking.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is lunar and based on the phases of the moon. As a result, Ramadan does not start on the same date each year and instead, over time, passes through all the seasons. While Muslim holidays are always the same day on the Muslim calendar, they occur on different days on the Gregorian calendar – typically moving 11 or 12 days earlier each year. For example, Ramadan began on June 6 in 2016.

Ramadan is celebrated as the month when the first verses of the Quran were said to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE. “Laylat al-Qadr,” Night of Power, is the actual day when Muslims believe that God sent the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad and revealed the first verse: “the Quran was sent down as a guidance for the people” (Quran 2:185).

According to Muslims, Muhammad is the final prophet in a line of prophets that includes Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, chosen by God to act as messengers to teach mankind. Muslims believe there is one all-knowing God, and that people can achieve salvation by following his commandments. In Arabic, “Islam” means “submission” or “surrender” (to God).

Islam is the world’s second largest religion, with an estimated 1.6 billion followers as of 2010. Countries with the largest Muslim populations include Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey and Iran. There is an estimated seven million Muslims in America, and there are Islamic places of worship, called masjids or mosques, in all 50 states.

The Five Pillars of Islam are fundaments of the religion. They are: 1) Shahadah (a declaration of faith): “There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”); 2) Salat (prayer) (Muslims pray five times a day); 3) Zakat (charitable giving); 4) Sawm: fasting during Ramadan; and 5) Hajj, a pilgrimage (Muslims are supposed to make a trip to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able).

Farzana Hakimi is originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, and came to the U.S. at 20 years old. She lives in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from CSUN, and works as a social worker with the County’s Dept. of Children & Family Services (DCFS). She explained what the holiday means to her.

“I deeply cherish the month of Ramadan. We as Muslims are expected to abstain from food, drinks and desires while fasting from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. But is that all Ramadan is about? Definitely not! There is so much more to it.

“It is the spirit of Ramadan that makes all Muslims come together as one community. The whole month, there is an air of calm and serenity where people leave behind the sins of the past and try to do the good that God Almighty expects of us. It is almost like turning over a new leaf, time to reconnect and seek forgiveness. When we abstain from the worldly material needs and desires, it allows us to bond with God much more easily.

“It is time to pay more attention to our self-discipline. I am keeping a check on my actions and thoughts. It is sometimes easy to get frustrated but the month of Ramadan demands something ‘otherwise.’

“Muslims should keep their peace within themselves and with the people they interact with because not only does God love those who fulfill their duty towards Him but He also loves those who abstain from wrong-doing and care for their duty towards others. We expect the same thing from others.

“Ramadan allows us to feel the pain of those brothers and sisters who live in poverty and cannot afford even the very basic human needs.

“While she is not required to fast until she reaches puberty, my 9-year-old daughter likes to give it a try, maybe fasting half a day now and then to get used to it. She is so eager to do it. Last Ramadan, she fasted four half days and enjoyed getting up early to have the special rich colorized breakfast of Ramadan with Mommy and Daddy. In our family, preparing our dinner/fast- breaking time is filled with love and eagerness. Our kitchen looks glamorous and smells deliciously awesome.”

The meal that is eaten pre-dawn on each day of Ramadan is called suhoor. Each evening, Muslims traditionally break their fasts as the Prophet Muhammad did 1,400 years ago with a sip of water and dates. The evening meal is known as iftar and it is typically shared with family and friends. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr.

During the last few days of Ramadan, Muslims donate a certain amount of food, called Zakat al-Fitr (charity of breaking the fast), to the poor to celebrate Eid. In many Muslim countries, it is common to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless; in some places, there are large public areas for the poor to break their fasts.

Eid al-Fitr (or Eid ul-Fitr), the Feast of Fast-Breaking, begins the day after Ramadan ends and lasts for three days. Eid al-Fitr includes special prayers and meals with friends and relatives, and gifts are often exchanged. Eid al Fitr is a time of reverence as Muslims pray to Allah (God) for helping them get through the month and to ask for forgiveness for their sins. On the day of Eid, it is forbidden to fast.

Early in the morning of Eid, Muslims typically eat a small breakfast then join prayers either outside or at a masjid. After the sermon, Muslims say the prayer, Salat al-Eid, which can only be recited with others.

Though Eid celebrations are similar in most places, many countries around the world flavor the holiday with their own traditions.

In Turkey, Eid is called Ramazan Bayram, meaning Ramadan Feast, or seker Bayram, which means “sugar feast” for the sweet foods such as baklava that are typically eaten. Reverence for the elderly is particularly emphasized during this period, and older citizens are greeted with a kiss to their right hand.

Eid is referred to as Idul Fitri or Lebaran in Indonesia. During the holiday, many Indonesian Muslims visit the graves of deceased family members where they clean the gravesite and pray.

The Philippines is the only Christian country recognize Eid as a national holiday, known as Wakas ng Ramadan. The national holiday was declared to promote unity between Filipino Muslims and the rest of the population.

Traditional greetings during Eid are Eid Mubarak, which means “Blessed Eid,” and Eid Said, meaning “Happy Eid.”

The traditional Ramadan greeting is “Ramadan Mubarak” (May God give you a blessed month) and the common reply is “Ramadan Kareem” (May God give you a generous month).

Each year, the U.S. military organizes forums in advance of Ramadan to build interfaith relationships and increase understanding. At a panel discussion for “Airmen, Marines, Sailors and coalition partners co-located with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group” on May 10, 2017, at an “undisclosed location,” Staff Sgt. Alexander Riedel reported: “The speakers shared an early example of breaking the fast by sharing dates with those in attendance and left their audience with a simple tip on how to positively support those actively participating in Ramadan – by using the friendly phrase ‘Ramadan Kareem – to you and your family,’ as a way to share well-wishes with friends and co-workers.”

“Ramadan is a very important part of our religion and culture,” said Bana Azizi, one of the volunteer presenters. “It is a time of sacrifice but also of spiritual (focus) and charity. It is a beautiful time.”

“Ramadan is a good reminder for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to strengthen one’s relationships,” Chaplain (Capt) Rob Pitts, the 407th AEG chaplain said. “For some, the relationship with God and relationships with others are keys to spiritual fitness.”

“There is great power in understanding people’s diverse backgrounds,” Pitts said. “Many of us may not practice Islam, so this was a great opportunity for us to build bridges of understanding and awareness.

“Not everyone is alike,” Pitts continued. “We all have different backgrounds and stories to share. But when we come together to accomplish the mission, in a unity of effort, that diversity brings a lot of strength to the table.

“I believe there are a lot more similarities than there are differences between all people,” Azizi added. “And if we can bridge some gaps, increase some understanding, it can build common ground for us to understand and respect each other – and ultimately allows us to celebrate our differences.”

Also in early May, Sheikh Hamdy Sadek of the Islamic Center of Glendale offered his thoughts on the upcoming celebration of Ramadan: “For 23 years, piece-by-piece,” the holy man reflected upon the story of the years of the delivery of the Quran. Regarding this Ramadan upcoming, he implored, “First, we must fix what we break. Second, we must act with full intention. What if this is your last Ramadan? I urge you to pray as if you’re saying your last prayer. That will make your fast so much better. Act as if this was the last month of this life. Fast but feed the needy. Stop fighting. Use maximum will-power to focus on prayer. Fix your relationship with the Quran. Read and study.”

The following advice has been proffered for those wishing to be supportive of friends, co-workers, and employees who are celebrating Ramadan:

1. Be aware of the basics around Ramadan, the dates, the details, and the requirements; be conscious and respectful.

2. Understand that “fasting” does not mean dieting.

Some Muslims say the month is sometimes confused with a kind of dietary “detox” but that this is a misinterpretation.

3. Be sensitive to the possible effects of abstinence on Muslim friends.

“I’ve found controlling anger and language (among other things) to be much more challenging while fasting than anything else,” Adeel Arif said in an online forum.

“I find that I get very cranky due to hunger and thirst, and controlling that takes some effort.

“So, if I could ask non-Muslims anything, it would just be to deal with us with a bit more patience, and try to avoid getting into arguments with us.

“But those are things that we need to be working on more than you do!”

4. Understand that the month is not necessarily an unpleasant experience. Respect the spirituality of the celebration.

5. Try not to eat, smoke and drink in front of those fasting.

“What you can do to help is not tempt [Muslims observing Ramadan] or talk about delicious food deliberately, and definitely do not smoke or drink in front of them,” Fizza Jaffer said on Quora.

“Also, you might just cook something for your friend for the Iftar to celebrate a successful fasting day!”

America’s first mosque was built by Lebanese immigrants in North Dakota in the 1920s. The mosque was torn down in the 1970s and later replaced. What is believed to be the oldest surviving mosque in the U.S. was constructed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the 1930s.

In 1996, then-first lady Hillary Clinton hosted the first Eid al-Fitr dinner at the White House. President Bill Clinton continued the tradition throughout the rest of his time in office.

His successor, President George W. Bush, hosted an iftar at the White House in 2001 and continued the dinners every year of his two terms in power. President Barack Obama followed suit, hosting his first White House Ramadan dinner in August 2010.

  Julie BUTCHER