Illustration by Josh Hagler

Hundreds of Muslims gather closely in their best outfits. It is the day of Eid, and they are celebrating. For the last month, they have prayed and fasted in the name of Allah, and now they are going to pray as one community, Ummah.

The kids stand by their parents, imitating their actions as the Imam gives a sermon through the loudspeakers. When the prayer is completed, every Muslim man and woman turns around and hugs the closest person three times and wishes them a happy Eid.

This scene of Muslims interacting in the name of Islam means to me what a scene of singing Christmas carols and going to mass on Christmas Eve may mean to a Catholic or the warmth that Thanksgiving holds for so many of us.

Most University of Arizona students are driving or flying home this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones. While my brother and I are observing the fifth day of Ramadan, we are going to eat turkey as well. Only we are going to wait until after sundown.

The day of Thanksgiving is a special day because it gives us a chance to recognize how truly lucky we are. Every day of Ramadan is a holy blessing for Muslims - we are given 30 days to remember that we are truly blessed.

The charm of the religion is often spoiled for Westerners because of fundamentalist overtones, and the charm of Islam is most certainly being overlooked lately. Ramadan is the most holy month in Islam and in Muslim countries, a very momentous occasion. This importance is often misunderstood. Now, I am going to answer some common queries I have gathered from my college peers that may help clarify some of the confusion.

Q: Is there feasting?

A: Yes, there is. Wouldn't you if you hadn't eaten anything since the sun came up? The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, so it is fitting for a day of fasting to depend on when the sun rises and sets.

Q: Is there drinking and dancing?

A: I am afraid not. Intoxication of any kind (alcohol, drugs, etc.) is strictly forbidden in Islam. Therefore, no drinking. As for the dancing, Islam requires modesty when it comes to interaction between men and women. So grinding in skin-tight clothing with someone else is kind of frowned upon.

Q: Do you actually fast for the whole month?

A: No. Every day for 29 to 30 days from sun up until sun down.

Q: Can you drink water?

A: No intake of any kind is allowed. However, people do make amendments to their own rules. But in principle, no water, gum or anything is allowed in the mouth.

Ramadan is not about giving up eating and drinking then splurging as soon as the sun sets. Not in principle anyway.

There are many purposes for the month of Ramadan. It is designed to be a kind of refresher course for Muslims who lose track of what Islam is all about. When I don't eat all day, it makes me grateful for every sip of water and morsel of food that I intake later on.

Another part of Ramadan is sacrificing. Sacrifice is a common part of most religions. Catholicism has Lent, Hindus fast and Muslims sacrifice.

During Ramadan, one must sacrifice things he or she takes for granted: food, drinking water, smoking, sex and other activities. The reason for all this is so a person has the frame of mind where he or she is thinking about Allah all the time.

One of the five pillars of faith is praying five times a day. The other four are faith, almsgiving, Ramadan and Hajj. The reason we pray five times is so that God is always on a Muslim's mind. That way, they do not participate in any activity that is against Islam and do not stray into things they shouldn't. In Ramadan, it is extra important to pray. Some people even go the extra mile and finish reading the entire Quran in the month of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, many people go to the mosque and pray - this way they are with fellow Muslims. This helps people be part of a community, or Ummah. Opening my fast with my fellow Muslim sisters is such a pleasure, similar to the way our nation gathers for Thanksgiving. But during Ramadan, we do it every day for a month.

Every day I sit with loved ones and celebrate all the things that I am thankful for.