Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

The significance of Ramadan to Muslims & what they do during the month

Each year our Muslim friends look forward to “The Sultan of the Months”. The best month of the year – the month of Ramadan. It is a month with both deep religious significance, and it is also important for family and community.

During daylight hours our Muslim friends fast from food, water and intimate relationships. This gives them an opportunity to think of the hungry and poor; a time to think of God through prayer; and a chance to find the strength to control fleshly desires.

Each day at the end of the fast there is a communal meal (Iftar) eaten together with family, friends or the wider community. This meal offers a way to strengthen relationships.

During this month, where there is such a strong focus on the spiritual life and an emphasis on community ties, there are openings for us to share with our Muslim friends important principles of worship and love which are priorities for us too.

As we meet with people who are practicing a ‘spiritual discipline’, we can share our experience of fasting, waiting on God and listening to his voice. We can share things which strengthen our relationship with God and guide us on our walk with him. During close family and community times we can join in, helping to build up and strengthen our friendships.

This Ramadan let’s pray for one another as we look for the opportunities God gives us to speak his words and show his love within the communities around us, communities made up of people who are focusing on God and seeking to know him in a new way.

Elliot's Roundup: Hatred, heroism, hunger, heatwave...

image: flickr Moose

The attack on Finsbury Park Mosque, the imam who has been hailed as a hero, fasting during a heatwave and more. 

Monday saw a 47 year old father of four from Cardiff drive into a crowd of Muslims outside a London Mosque in a rented van. One person died and eleven were injured. The man who had interest in far right groups had recently voiced hatred for Muslims. 

““This was quite clearly an attack on Muslims who looked like they were probably Muslims and they were coming from a prayer meeting,” said the Met police commissioner, Cressida Dick. “We treat this as a terrorist attack and we in the Met are as shocked as anybody in this local community or across the country at what has happened.””

— https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/19/finsbury-park-attack-suspect-named-as-cardiff-resident-darren-osborne

As the van driver was wrestled to the ground, the imam intervened to calm the situation.  

““The imam came from the mosque and he said, ‘Listen, we are fasting, this is Ramadan, we are not supposed to do these kinds of things, so please step back.’
“For that reason this guy is still alive today. This is the only reason. If the imam was not there, he wouldn’t be there today.””

— https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/19/imam-praised-for-protecting-finsbury-park-suspect-from-crowd

The imam has been widely praised for his actions  and recently visited by Prince Charles who was 'deeply impressed' by the imam's actions.  

Terrorist actions dominate the news. But daily life for many Muslims continues to be a struggle do to fasting for long hours in a heatwave. If fasting wasn't challenging enough, think of the estimated 148 million diabetic Muslims worldwide, according to the article, half of British diabetic Muslims fast.  Guidelines for managing diabetes during Ramadan are available, other Muslim diabetics have come to the conclusion that Ramadan is about fasting from the fast.  

Muslim women are also in the news this week. One article highlights the tradition of women only mosques in China. 

“While Muslim women face restrictions in most mosques around the world, either being segregated by sex within the building or in some communities being banned from entering altogether, many Chinese Muslim women pray at institutions dedicated to serving their gender, a unique Chinese tradition.”

— https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706221054863942-beijing-islam-female-only-mosque/

According to the article women only mosques have come about through merging of the Chinese and Islamic traditions. The idea has come about through  receiving the first Muslims in China as honoured guests and having a national culture of not barring women from public life.

Muslim women sporting pioneers have also been in the news. Dana Abdulkarim was teh first hijabi athlete to represent England- then teh first hijabi P.E. teacher.  Salma Bi was teh first Muslim woman to play cricket for Worcestershire, Anisa Ansar plays cricket for both Hampshire and England.

“We have different tastes and preferences on how we live our lives and navigate our careers. Some of us wear hijabs, some don’t. Some have families who are supportive, some who aren’t and others that take a little more convincing.”

— http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/get-inspired/40353279

Heroes, the hungry, Chinese, diabetic and athletic, it is clear there is no Muslim only many individual Muslims with their own interests, families and stories.

Could you be hospitable, share your interests and introduce them to your Father?

40acts: Against the Tide

Image: 40acts

40acts: Against the Tide

40acts has just featured a post from one of our local Mahabba prayer groups on day 35 of its campaign.

40acts is an annual campaign run by Stewardship during Lent, encouraging acts of generosity, and was the inspiration for Mahabba's Lovefast Ramadan campaign.

Today's theme is all about bucking the trends of society, and here's a snippet, which is to do with how we out work that in faith communitieis, including Muslim ones.

You can find a link to the full article below.

“In a culture which seems to thrive on negative perceptions and suspicion of difference, building friendships with people from other faith communities is one way we can do things differently. How will you swim against the tide of mistrust and fear? In which ways will you live out the message of reconciliation with which we have been entrusted?”

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SINCE YOU'RE HERE...

... we have recently reached a total of 40 local Mahabba prayer groups in the UK - awesome news!

With your help, though, we would like to continue to sow, plant and support Mahabba groups.

Our work involves a small team of regional reps and central hub personnel investing in local coordinators and groups, as well as spreading the word.

To continue this vital mission to Muslims, we need to increase our regular monthly income.

Our initial target is to raise up 100 individual regular donors, giving an average of £10 to £15 per month.

Could you be one of the 100?