We are now halfway through Ramadan, which began this year on August 11 and ends on September 10 with the festival of Eid ul-Fitr. If you are like me and grew up as a non-Muslim American with virtually no exposure to Islam, chances are you may be unfamiliar with this important religious faith tradition.
Only as an adult, post 9/11, have I realized the importance of gaining some understanding of Islam, a religion observed by over 1.5 billion people around the world. (There are about 50 Muslim-majority countries, only 20% of which are Arab.) I make no claim to be an expert on anyone’s religion, including my own (Episcopalian), but I am struck by commonalities that should unite humanity, rather than divide us.
Ramadan, the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, is a time of reflection. Through fasting, prayer, and spiritual cleansing, Muslims turn away from worldly affairs in order to establish a link between themselves and God. It is a time to help the poor, pray for forgiveness of sins and demonstrate personal self-restraint.
To that end, Muslims fast all day, every day, from sunrise to sunset, refraining from both eating and drinking, even water. In desert climates like Afghanistan, where daytime temperatures can still hover around 100, observing this fast is no easy task. On a practical level, the business day shortens and people go home early–they tire easily and are grumpy by the end of the day. However, the evenings are a festive time when family and friends are invited over for Iftar, the dinner celebration of breaking their fast.
The obvious analogy in Christianity is Lent, the forty days representing the time that Jesus spent in the desert fasting and enduring the temptations Satan. For a believer, the purpose of Lent is to prepare through prayer, penitence, charity and self-denial for the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. Lent is observed by Catholics worldwide and many Protestants including the Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans and Episcopalians.
Traditionally during Lent, Christians choose to forgo eating some particular food in solidarity with Christ’s fasting (I always give up chocolate), and vow to avoid sinful behavior. Compared to complete fasting for Ramadan, modern day Christians get off light.
The dates of Ramadan/ Eid ul-Fitr and Lent/Easter vary each year depending on the cycle of the moon. Ramadan follows the Muslim lunar calendar, starting and ending with the sighting of the new moon, while Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. In both faiths, there are slight differences in how different sects calculate these dates.
In addition to Judaism, Christianity and Islam sharing Abraham as ancestor, another interesting commonality relates to the angel Gabriel, who plays a pivotal role in each religion. To the Jews, Gabriel appears in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel’s visions. To Christians, he foretold the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus. To Muslims, he is called Jibrail and was the medium through which God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad.
In her book The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright argues that, to be effective, U.S. Policy-makers must understand the power and place of religion in motivating others and in coloring how American actions are perceived. According to Secretary Albright, “religion and politics are inseparable.” But, she argues “when their partnership is properly harnessed, it can be a force for justice and peace.”
In my view, inter-faith dialogue is a key to bridging the gaps in our mutual understanding. Studying the great religions of the world should be a mandatory part of every educational system.
Tags: afghan people Afghanistan Catholics Christians Easter Eid ul-Fitr Episcopalians faith faith traditions fasting Islam Islamic societies Lent Muslim Protestants Qur'an Ramadan religion religious fasting religious holiday
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