Millions of Muslim-Americans Observe Ramadan | Voice of America - English
The ninth month of the Muslim calendar, Ramadan, begins this year at sundown, September 1st. The observance marks the time 1400 years ago when Muslims believe the words of their holy book, the Koran, were revealed to the prophet Mohammed.  Ramadan in America, as it is elsewhere in the world, is a time of fasting, prayer and reflection.  Each year during this holy month, Muslims of diverse backgrounds and national origins come together to worship and celebrate their faith.
Thereare, by various estimates, between six million and eight million Muslims livingin the United States. Most are immigrants from around the world. Many arenative-born Americans who have converted to Islam. Likefollowers of the faith everywhere, American Muslims observe Ramadan withtraditional rituals.Families shop atHalal meat stores, prepare Iftar meals to break their dawn-to-sundown fastswith family and friends. They pray together. Some Muslim Americans shop forRamadan sweets at specialty food stores. "Religious-wise,it is the same.But back home we havemore people around us," says Amina Tambouch, an American Muslim fromSenegal. "Here we have to go to work (during) Ramadan and leave late, soit is hard to get together." Tambouchsays from time to time she does get together with friends during Ramadan"Every one will cook some food and bring it. We pray together, we talkabout the Muslim religion, and we teach each other."At work she and her Muslim colleagues willpray together at lunchtime. DuringRamadan, Islamic centers and mosques across the country are crowded with MuslimAmericans breaking their fasts, praying and reading the Koran. Imam AbdullaKhouj, director of the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C., says the diversityin the U.S. Muslim population gives Ramadan in America a special flavor. "Yousee the flags here, people from everywhere in the world setting on one table onthe floor, join together to break the fast, to exchange talk and to feel thatthey have accomplished something that day, which is fasting to Allah(God)." ImamKhouj believes that recent Ramadan greetings by American presidents have helpedto raise Americans' awareness of Islam, and to promote the idea that Islam is apeaceful religion.He says invitingnon-Muslims to the nightly Iftar dinners is also an occasion to educate themabout the Islamic faith."We havea lot of groups coming to the center, especially in the month of Ramadan,"he says, "and some of them come and break the fast with us." JaneSisi, an American Muslim from Guinea, says that during Ramadan she often talksto her non-Muslim friends about Islam."I believe strongly that Muslim religion is the religion to bringpeople together, so Ramadan is a good occasion to talk about that, to bring allthe people together and to bring peace." Muslimsin the United States face special challenges in celebrating the holy month.They have to adjust Ramadan observances to the beat of American life. That'sespecially hard for Muslim students, says Palestinian-American Mohamed Tafesh."It is more challenging because they go to school and they have to do allof the activities, sport activities in high school, and they go to lunch whereevery body is eating and they are fasting." Evenas Muslim-Americans adapt their Ramadan rituals to the secular rhythms ofAmerican life, more non-Muslim Americans are becoming aware of Ramadan, and itsimportant place among the unique traditions of Islam.