About 100 Muslim families in the Bloomington-Normal community in Central Illinois will join their fellow believers worldwide in observing the month of Ramadan. Muslims number 1.2 billion worldwide, comprising about one-fifth of the human race.
Bloomington-Normal Muslims come from Pakistan, India, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia and several other countries. A portion of the community's Muslims are American converts, according to Tariq Gilani, board member of the Islamic Center of Bloomington-Normal.
Celebrating Ramadan in the Islamic Community
Ramadan is regarded as the holiest month of the Muslim year. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him*) said, "It is Allah's Own Month." Ramadan is so important its observance numbers among the Five Pillars of Islam--the fundamental beliefs and practices of a Muslim. The month of Ramadan marks an event of great significance in Muslim history. In the year 620 C.E., at the age of forty, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him*) began to reveal the Holy Qur'an – a process that lasted 22 years until His death.
According to tradition, Muhammad (peace be upon him*) said, "The fast...darkens [Satan's] face, while charity breaks his back and the love for Allah's sake and assisting others in doing good deeds cut off his tail and seeking Allah's forgiveness splits his spine. For everything there is a purification, and the purification of the bodies is the fast. "
Benefits Not Limited to Physical Fasting Alone
"Fasting is more than just depriving the body of food and drink. It is more of a spiritual purification. Because once you go through the pain of hunger and deprivation then you realize what the poor are going through," explained Gilani.
Abstention from food and drink during Ramadan is an outer purification that symbolizes an inner purification. "It is also recommended that fasters put forth extra effort to avoid sins, such as lying and cheating, during the holy month," according to "Today's Zaman." Ramadan is devoted to the performance of charity, good deeds and special prayers and religious observances.
"Some nights, among the last ten nights of Ramadan, are called the 'Nights of Glory' (Laylatul Qadr). These are the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights. Muslims keep awake during these nights and offer special prayers," according to "Holy Ramadan."
"Actually all the odd nights in the last part of Ramadan are considered special. These include the 19th, the 21st, the 23rd, the 25th, the 27th and the 29th. One of these nights is the 'Night of Power," when Allah comes down to the lowest heaven and the people ask for forgiveness, said Gilani. "This night is better than a thousand nights," according to the Holy Qur'an.
"Nobody knows when that night is. It could be any of the odd nights. Allah chose not to reveal which night, so that people will repent and do good deeds every night," Gilani added.
Special Customs and Observances
"We have an extra prayer that we do every night in which the recitation of the Qur'an is done so people will have a chance to listen to the Qu'ran. This is done in congregation at a center or at a mosque only during the month of Ramadan," said Gilani.
"We get together and break the fast on Saturdays during the Ramadan. Five or six families with children get together and make food for the rest of the community. We take a meal together at sunset."
The Five Pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam are as follows:
- Shahada (profession of faith) – "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Prophet";
- Salah – Prayers including the five times of daily obligatory prayers;
- Zakat – The giving of alms;
- Sawm – Fasting; and
- Hajj – Muslims must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his/her lifetime.
Each year, approximately 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan, which includes abstaining from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. The physical act of fasting symbolizes an inner purification. During Ramadan, Muslims engage in acts of charity and devote themselves to special prayers and religious observances.
* It is customary for Muslims to recite a blessing whenever the Prophet Muhammad's name is mentioned.
Sources:
Tariq Gilani, Board Member, Islamic Center of Bloomington-Normal, phone interview 8/10/2010.
"Holy month of Ramdan begins today at sunset" Todayszaman.com. Accessed August 10, 2010.
"Glorious Month of Holy Ramadan" Ezsoftech.com. Accessed August 10, 2010.
Rothwell Polk - Rothwell C. Polk, Jr. is a sixty-one-year-old living in Englewood, Colorado.. His interests include independent living, community and ...
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