Mariam Durrani

Nov. 5, 2002. A Tuesday. Another day in the life for many UA students. One day closer to Thanksgiving break. One Tuesday closer to three whole weeks of freedom from academic responsibility.

For the UA's Muslim population, Nov. 5 held a completely different significance.

It marked the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. During this month, Muslims fast or abstain "completely" from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking ÷ from before the break of the dawn until sunset.

But if we restrict the meaning of the Islamic fasting to this literal sense, we would be sadly mistaken.

The idea of fasting in Islam for a whole month is meant to be a cleansing for Muslims of the mind, body and soul. It is considered a blessing for the Muslim "ummah," or community.

Islam has become a common word in our language, but the charm of the religion has become lost in the sea of media deception. Islam remains a mystery to many Americans. You may be wondering what Islam is really about anyway.

Ramadan provides the best opportunity to learn about Islam. The most blessed month of the Islamic calendar was given to Muslims to encourage them to strengthen their faith as well as link themselves with the outside world.

During Ramadan, at the "masjid" located on the corner of North Tyndall Avenue and east First Street you will see a larger turnout of Muslims than at any other time of the year. Every morning at sunrise, they gather to begin the day of fasting as a community.

Every sunset, they gather again to break their fast together and pray as an ummah. And you can listen to one-thirtieth of the Quran recited in Arabic every night, until it is completed on the 30th day of Ramadan.

By abstaining from food, intercourse and smoking, a Muslim gains perspective. There are so many things that all of us take for granted, coming from well-to-do households that it is very easy to lose understanding for the thousands of people starving for love and nutrition everyday. Ramadan is a means of thanking Allah, attaining an inner peace and practicing stronger self-control. It is even considered a sin to get angry with someone during the month.

Generosity and kindness are part of the custom of Ramadan, as many Muslims feel a greater need to give when they realize all that they have been blessed with.

The doors of the masjid are open for anyone who wishes to see first-hand the magic of Ramadan. On Wednesday, a large group from the St. Francis Methodist Church came to the masjid to take part in Ramadan. They broke the day's fast with us, and we all learned that we have more similarities than differences.

Ramadan does have a different significance to each person.

"Ramadan makes me feel I should be more patient and I feel closer to Allah and to my fellow Muslims because of the fasting and emphasis on praying together. I hope I could practice these principles for the whole year," said Taimur Jabran, a management information systems senior.

The essential meaning of Ramadan is to look beyond the self. Try to see the world from a different perspective. Be kinder. More forgiving. Expand knowledge about your own religion and practice tolerance and self-control toward others.

Surely many can relate to these basic laws of being a good person, no matter what religion one practices. As Americans, we are all taking part in this year's Thanksgiving and holiday season ÷ whether it be Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan or Christmas ÷ in order to give thanks for what we have, and to coexist peacefully and productively.