The Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts this week and Hamilton’s 30 000 Muslims have begun fasting for the entire month.
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Ramadan kareem. A man whiles away the time at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila by reading the Quran before the evening meal, called iftar, at the start of Ramadam on Monday. Muslims across the world will observe Ramadan, where they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk.
This year, millions of Muslims around the world started Ramadan on Monday (June 6) while others began fasting a day later, Tuesday, due to a moon-sighting methodology. The calendar is based on the phases of the moon, and lasts for around 354 days.
“We used to fast and welcome Ramadan with happiness but now our life in the tents is so hard, diseases are rampant and it is too hot”, Sana Khamis, also displaced, said.
The end of Ramadan feast, Eid al-Fitr, is celebrated with pomp, often with family. During the hours in between, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink.
For some countries in the northern hemisphere, the fast will be as long as 16 or 18 hours, Tahir Nawaz from the International Muslim Association of New Zealand says. The idea behind the fasting is that those who participate will experience the hunger and thirst felt by those who are less fortunate. For example, a Muslim in the Eastern Time Zone will be fasting for roughly 15 hours a day this year.
The fasting is designed as a spiritual effort, a struggle against the seduction of earthly pleasures. “Then during the night they come together for prayer, to break their fast, and participate in other communal and charitable activities planned”, explained Mr Ali. There are exceptions to fasting for children, the elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating, and people travelling. Families usually spend the day picnicking outside.
“Party members, cadres, civil servants, students and minors must not fast for Ramadan and must not take part in religious activities”, said a notice posted last Thursday on the official website of the city of Korla in central Xinjiang.
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Even if it seems to be a tiring practice, Muslims proclaim that Ramadan is a month they are all waiting for.
