Ramadan affects students in Macomb
Assanatov Sow
Issue date: 9/23/09 Section: News
The Muslim community of Macomb celebrated the end of Ramadan fasting month on Sunday morning at the mosque.
The holy month of Ramadan began on Aug. 22 and ended on Sept 20.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the "five pillars" of Islam. The others are belief in Allah and his prophets, ritual prayer, payment of charity tax or "Zakat" and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
During Ramadan, Muslims in good health must fast from sunrise to sunset. This includes abstention from sex, food and drink.
Sheikh Ahmad T. Momoh from Nigeria said that fasting is the most interesting thing he does each year because it exposes him to the "essence of hunger." The hunger helps him relate to people who don't have enough to eat and what they are going through.
"Anyone who is not Muslim will see it as a punishment. But we look at it spiritually as a way to be closer to Allah," Momoh said.
Many Muslims look at Ramadan like a yearly in-service training during which they are able to prevent themselves from bad habits and develop more of their spiritual self through self-restraint in speech and behavior.
Waking up and eating at odd hours makes them feel what it's like to live without food and water. Fasting is like a training that strengthens Muslims physically and spiritually, according to the traditions of the holiday.
However, Muslims completed the challenges of the holy month on Sunday, Sept. 20th. In Macomb and across the U.S., Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan, also known as Eid, by gathering as a community, praying together and giving thanks to Allah.
Eid is a day of forgiveness in which all Muslims should forgive each other, socialize at the mosque by eating and celebrating together like brothers and sisters. Eid is meant to make the poor happy. Muslims also donate a charity tax known as "Zakat" one or two days before the fast.
Eid is a day of forgiveness, charity tax payment and remembrance in order to feel happy and make others happy. But most importantly, Eid is a big day when all Muslims, no matter their cultural background, join each other as one community.
The holy month of Ramadan began on Aug. 22 and ended on Sept 20.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the "five pillars" of Islam. The others are belief in Allah and his prophets, ritual prayer, payment of charity tax or "Zakat" and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
During Ramadan, Muslims in good health must fast from sunrise to sunset. This includes abstention from sex, food and drink.
Sheikh Ahmad T. Momoh from Nigeria said that fasting is the most interesting thing he does each year because it exposes him to the "essence of hunger." The hunger helps him relate to people who don't have enough to eat and what they are going through.
"Anyone who is not Muslim will see it as a punishment. But we look at it spiritually as a way to be closer to Allah," Momoh said.
Many Muslims look at Ramadan like a yearly in-service training during which they are able to prevent themselves from bad habits and develop more of their spiritual self through self-restraint in speech and behavior.
Waking up and eating at odd hours makes them feel what it's like to live without food and water. Fasting is like a training that strengthens Muslims physically and spiritually, according to the traditions of the holiday.
However, Muslims completed the challenges of the holy month on Sunday, Sept. 20th. In Macomb and across the U.S., Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan, also known as Eid, by gathering as a community, praying together and giving thanks to Allah.
Eid is a day of forgiveness in which all Muslims should forgive each other, socialize at the mosque by eating and celebrating together like brothers and sisters. Eid is meant to make the poor happy. Muslims also donate a charity tax known as "Zakat" one or two days before the fast.
Eid is a day of forgiveness, charity tax payment and remembrance in order to feel happy and make others happy. But most importantly, Eid is a big day when all Muslims, no matter their cultural background, join each other as one community.
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