Posted at 07:05 PM ET, 08/01/2012 Ramadan and religious freedom
By Azizah al-Hibri and M. Zuhdi Jasser From North and South
America to Europe, and Africa and Australia to Asia, including
the Middle East, Ramadan reminds Muslims of the soulful ties
that bind them together. For Muslims, it is a month to
strengthen faith in God and reaffirm love and reliance upon Him
and His Word as revealed through the message of the prophet
Muhammad. The month also is an opportunity for Muslims to
fulfill Godís commandment to fast from sunrise to sunset (2:185)
, an act that joins Muslims together as equals. It is also far
more. Whether reciting the Koran, offering prayers, performing
charity, or sharing in the nightly iftar dinner, Ramadan is a
month for self-reflection and atonement. It also is a time for
Muslims to come closer to God, scripture, family, friends, and
neighbors, while gaining a deeper understanding and empathy for
those who are less fortunate. Given all that is happening in
todayís world, Ramadan provides an