STAFF WRITER

BY FAKHRUDDIN AHMED

As Muslim Americans fast from dawn to dusk to purify their body and soul during the holy month of Ramadan (Aug. 22 “” Sept. 19), two insults were unfairly hurled their way. Mayor John Piper of Clarksville, Tenn., sent an e-mail to every member of the city council, many city employees, friends and family members urging “patriotic Americans” to boycott the U.S. Postal Service’s “Eid” (pronounced “eed”) stamps that commemorate the two important Muslim religious holidays. The e-mail falsely accused President Barack Obama of ordering the printing of these stamps. The stamps were actually issued during President George W. Bush’s presidency in 2001, and reissued several times as the price of the stamps increased. One would like to ask Mayor Piper what crime Muslim Americans committed to deserve the wrath of “patriotic Americans.”

Late last month, some very young students belonging to a church group entered a Florida school recently, wearing T-shirts proclaiming the message “Islam is of the Devil” printed on the back. Amid parents’ protests that this was merely a case of the students exercising their “free speech,” the authorities sent the students home. The church authorities and the parents do not seem to realize that they are teaching innocent youngsters prejudice at a very impressionable age. This could taint them for life. Imagine the consequences if a Muslim American youth, wearing a similar anti-Christian message, entered a school.

Fasting in some form is a requirement in many major religions. Catholics fast during Lent, for example, Jews fast during the High Holy Days and Hindus fast on certain days of the month such as Purnima (full moon) and Ekadasi (the 11th day of the fortnight).

Fasting is a very special form of worship for the Muslims. The holy Qur’an was revealed during the month of Ramadan. Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk the whole of the lunar month of Ramadan (lasting 29 or 30 days). Pre-adolescents are not required to fast, neither are the sick, travelers and menstruating women; they are expected to make up the fasts later.

What is different about Muslim fasting is that not only are the faithful forbidden to indulge in things that are sinful (”Haram”) during fasting, they also have to abstain from things that are normally allowed (”Halal”), such as food and conjugal relationships. Fasting is between the worshipper and God — no one else knows whether someone is actually fasting. Muslims believe that there is a special reward from God for those who fast to please him. Fasting requires that a person abstain not only from food and drink, but also from impure thoughts. It is a spiritual cleansing of the body and the mind.

Through abstinence from food and drink, Muslims learn firsthand how it feels to go hungry. This allows them to empathize with the poor and those who are forced to “fast” daily for lack of food. Muslims are required to donate 2.5 percent of their wealth to charity every year. Charity during the month of Ramadan carries special rewards. Muslim Americans will celebrate the end of Ramadan (Eid-ul-Fitr) with food, festivities and thanksgiving, which takes place this coming Sunday.

In the spirit of charity, the Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) responded to President Barack Obama’s call for a day of “United We Serve” on Sept. 5, hosted an interfaith dialogue and offered free health care and free legal clinic services. Many local residents took advantage of the free medical clinic and legal services.

Reflecting the true spirit of Ramadan, the Islamic Society of Central Jersey donated $10,000 to the Trenton Soup Kitchen, $10,000 to the South Brunswick Elementary School, $1,000 to South Brunswick Food Pantry and $1,000 to South Brunswick Women’s Committee. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine sent a message of gratitude to the Islamic Society of Central Jersey for its generosity. Guest speakers who expressed appreciation for the ISCJ’s gesture included Sen. Bill Baroni, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, member of the South Brunswick Township Council Mahesh “Mac” Shah and South Brunswick Township Mayor Frank Gambatese.

Fakhruddin Ahmed is a Rhodes Scholar from Bangladesh. He lives in West Windsor.

Source: NJ