USA: American Muslims gearing up for Ramadan

Record ID: 514596

  • Title: USA: American Muslims gearing up for Ramadan
  • Date: 19th August 2009
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ISLAMIC CENTRE IN WASHINGTON D.C. WORSHIPPER REMOVING THEIR SHOES AND WALKING INTO THE MOSQUE FOR FRIDAY PRAYER OR "KHUTBA" INTERIOR CEILING / WORSHIPPERS BEING CALLED TO PRAYER
  • Embargoed: 3rd September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVACL23N6HO3KH66WK4TCHY1FS0M
  • Story Text: American Muslims in Washington D.C. gathered at the mosque on Massachusetts Ave. in Downtown Washington on Friday (August 14) for Friday prayers in the run up for Ramadan.
    The prayer hall inside was immediately filled to capacity forcing many Muslims to set up and pray in the courtyard.
    But that did not dampen most people's enthusiasm. El Hajj Abdel Fatah Al Rawashidas is a visiting Palestinian Muslim devotee who says he is very excited to be spending this Ramadan in Washington D.C.
    "I would really like to fast this Ramadan in this country and in this mosque in particular. I am happy that I came from Palestine and that I came to Washington, and I toured Washington and America and New York, and I loved it and I missed it and I want to fast Ramadan here," he said.
    The beginning of Ramadan is traditionally based on the sighting of the new moon so most Muslims don't know exactly when the month begins until a day or two before.
    But the mood in the run up for Ramadan has been "festive", according to Abbasie Jarr-Koroma of the Islamic Centre in Washington D.C.
    "The mood is more conciliatory, the mood is more revering, the mood is more civility, the mood is more camaraderie, the mood is more festive," Jarr-Koroma who works as a Librarian at the Islamic Centre said.
    Zachary West, a recent convert to Islam, was also excited about the upcoming Ramadan.
    "I'm really pumped about it," 18-year old West said. "I've been a Muslim now for eight months and so like whenever I kind of search for discipline and like my jihad-- just like any other struggles that I go through every day-- I kind of like turn to fasting every once in a while. And it's made really huge significant impacts when I do it just once so like to think that I am going to do it for a month just like blows my mind," he said.
    Ramadan is Islam's holiest month and a time of reflection when Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk.
    When the sun sets, the breaking of the fast is called "Iftar" and usually entails a few elaborate Middle Eastern dishes and many sweets.
    At the Mediterranean Bakery in Virginia, Muslims were buying Ramadan specials such as dates and filling up on typical Arabic food, such as warm pitta bread, cheese, olives, halawa and Baklawa.
    "Of course Ramadan is beautiful and Ramadan is blessed on all Muslims. And we await Ramadan year by year and God willing it will always be good," said Amal Anabtawi, an American Muslim woman who queued up at the shop's counter.
    Figures for the U.S. Muslim population vary from 6 to 10 million.
    Ramadan is due to begin next Friday or Saturday in the world's Muslim nations, depending on when people can view the new cresent, a signal that the new lunar month has begun.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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