ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires' Muslim community marks Ramadan

Record ID: 444764

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires' Muslim community marks Ramadan
  • Date: 15th August 2010
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (AUGUST 13, 2010) (REUTERS TV) MUSLIMS AFTER BREAKING FAST IN MOSQUE HANDS TAKING DATES VARIOUS OF MUSLIMS EATING AND DRINKING WATER MUSLIMS RETURNING TO MOSQUE AFTER EATING VARIOUS OF MUSLIMS PRAYING IN MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SAMIR SALECH, PRESIDENT OF ISLAMIC COMMUNITY IN ARGENTINA, SAYING: "We can eat everything. The only thing that
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVABK19OU4JQ80RYULRCOR0Y49C
  • Story Text: Argentine muslims marked the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday (August 13) at the Al Ahmad Mosque in the capital city of Buenos Aires.
    During Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn to sunset.
    At nightfall, many traditionally gather in mosques to pray and break fast by eating dates.
    Samir Salech, the President of the Islamic Community in Argentina, said the fast trains them to exercise self-control over their bodies so they can focus more on God.
    "The thing is it's harder to see Ramadan in a the Western world than in an Islamic country. It's to leave behind personal ambitions, aspirations-- more those based on material things than spiritual-- and to be connected to earth in the sense that this month, more than ever, we need to try and adore god, be thankful for all we have, thank him for what he gave us and be thankful for all the things we can enjoy everyday," he said.
    Children, nursing and pregnant women, the elderly and sick are exempt from fasting.
    Over half a million muslims are believed to live in Argentina. While some are recent immigrants, many Arabs-- Christians, Jews and Muslims-- emigrated to the South American country in the early 20th century.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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