Muslims In Canada Prepare for Ramadan

Calgary's Muslim com-munity is preparing for Ramadan, a period of fasting and prayer.

And for the first time in about 30 years, it will take place during the Calgary Stampede.

Syed Soharwardy, founder of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and lead imam of the Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, says the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar and, based on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims should witness the new moon and then start Ramadan. The new moon is expected to be visible July 9, with the first day of Ramadan starting July 10 and ending Aug. 8.

"Ramadan is called the month of fasting," says Soharwardy. "It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the holiest months of the Islamic calendar. In this month, every adult Muslim must fast from dawn to sunset every day of the month except the sick, travellers, pregnant women and women with menstruations. However, these people must fast later at any time of the year for their missed days in Ramadan. If very old people due to age, diabetic, heart patients, etc. cannot fast then they should not fast. However, they should feed two meals to the hungry and needy people for each fast they miss. Underage children are not required to fast."

Soharwardy says that during the daily fast, Muslims refrain from dawn to sunset from eating, drinking, smoking and husband and wife sexual relationships.

The month of Ramadan is also the month of reaching out to people and charity. Muslims are required to reach out to the needy and poor. Feed them and give them charity.

"Especially at the time of iftar, breaking the fast, Muslim families invite neighbours, relatives, friends and people in need to share food with them. Every morning all the members of the family wake up before dawn and eat a meal called sahoor or sahree," says Soharwardy.

"It is the month of families getting together and celebration. It's a one-month daily celebration. This is the month of thanksgiving when each Muslim thanks Allah for his blessings and share those blessings with the people in need. This is the month of righteousness and self-control. A Muslim voluntarily stays away from temptations of food, drinks, etc. in order to develop self-control for the sake of Allah. A fasting person is required to control his/her anger."

He says the Prophet Muhammad said the first 10 days of Ramadan are mercy, the middle 10 days are forgiveness and last 10 days are salvation.

"This year and the coming few years, the fasting in Ramadan will be harder as Ramadan falls in the summer. The longer days of summer are difficult for Muslims fasting but committed Muslims do get strength from their faith," he says.

"As far as the Stampede is concerned, we can enjoy the fun of Stampede and fast at the same time. Fasting does not stop Muslims from enjoying Stampede. The only difference will be that the Muslims will enjoy the food and the drinks after the sunset. The rest is the same. I do not think that there will be any challenges to the Muslims of Calgary during Stampede. It is business as usual. It is fun and celebration as usual. We just have to wait for the sun to set and then we enjoy the food."

At the end of Ramadan, the festival of Eid ul Fitr is celebrated. It is a day of celebration and fun. Gifts are exchanged and parties are held. Family reunions are held and people greet each other and exchange gifts, says Soharwardy.

This year Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Interfaith Food Bank of Calgary.