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August 22, 2009 Ramadan urges reflection WAPPINGERS FALLS - Throughout the mid-Hudson Valley, Muslims have begun observing the holy month of Ramadan. Imam Muhammad Asil Khan of Masjid Al-Noor mosque in the Town of Wappinger said they will follow the tradition of trying to see the new moon after sunset, which signals the beginning of Ramadan. Fasting, he said, is a significant part of observing the holy month. "According to the Koran, fasting is compulsory as it was for those before you," Khan said, meaning the Jews and Christians. "Through fasting, you become closer to Almighty God," he said. The date of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, changes because it is based on the lunar calendar. Finish meal early During the holy month, Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn to sundown. "You must finish your meal before the first light of the dawn, and then you do not eat or drink anything all day," Fishkill resident Aziz Ahsan said. He said the first light today is 4:26 a.m. "You have to finish eating before that time," Ahsan said. Prayers are recited during the day, with the goal of reciting the entire Koran by the time the month ends, he said. Khan said the month of the fast, along with making donations and helping others, is hopefully carried forward. "The month of training, especially the social training, has to be implemented in the rest of your life," he said. Abdul W. Sajid of Town of Poughkeepsie said the daily fast, which can last 16 or 17 hours, gives Muslims a chance to reflect on what they have and what others don't. "You come to know how somebody who is hungry is feeling," he said. Sajid said fasting is not as difficult as it sounds. "Trust me, it is only your thinking," he said. Khan said the ideals behind Ramadan can be related to those who do not observe. "These are values to be shared with others," he said. "They have to be respected." Additional Facts |
