Ramadan 2010

Via Boston Globe's, The Big Picture, wonderful pictorial essay of Ramadan around the world:

Muslim men and women across the world are currently observing Ramadan, a month long celebration of self-purification and restraint. During Ramadan, the Muslim community fast, abstaining from food, drink, smoking and sex between sunrise and sunset. Muslims break their fast after sunset with an evening meal called Iftar, where a date is the first thing eaten followed by a traditional meal. During this time, Muslims are also encouraged to read the entire Quran, to give freely to those in need, and strengthen their ties to God through prayer. The goal of the fast is to teach humility, patience and sacrifice, and to ask forgiveness, practice self-restraint, and pray for guidance in the future. This year, Ramadan will continue until Thursday, September 9th.

Via Boston Globe's The Big Picture

Islam Spiritual Center takes root in downtown Santa Rosa

Nice story of a Muslim community in Santa Rosa, California, via the Press Democrat: 

The call to prayer, “Allahu Akbar” — God is Greatest — is delivered by a gray-robed man in a black skullcap facing northeast into one cinder-block wall of the mosque, toward Mecca.

Outside, traffic moves along Mendocino Avenue a few blocks north of Old Courthouse Square.

Image via Press Democrat

Reignited ire buffets Muslim students

News story from Boston Globe:

WELLESLEY — Laila Alawa fiddled with her cellphone, pretending she hadn’t heard what an apparently intoxicated man near her on the MBTA had said about “her people’’ wanting to build the “ground zero mosque.’’


Growing up in a large Muslim family in upstate New York and New Hampshire, Alawa had often drawn stares because of her headscarf, and sometimes endured harassment from neighborhood children. But this summer, as she shuttled between research jobs at Wellesley College and MIT, the looks and questions from strangers about where she was from seemed to come more often, and with a sharper edge.

Image via Boston Globe

American Muslims Gather to Break Fast

Via VOA:

The holy month of Ramadan is marked by fasting from dawn to dusk. Muslim Americans end each day of fasting with a festive meal known as Iftar. After a long day, they relax and share the rituals of Ramadan from sundown to the predawn hours.

Via VOA

Local Muslim families mix Ramadan's rituals with American culture

Story from Detroit Free Press:

In front of the fireplace in their Canton home, the Ahmed family has four shoeboxes, one for each of their kids, packed with small toys like "Star Wars" figures and Hot Wheels. They call them Ramadan boxes, an idea the parents came up with after noticing Christmas stockings.

Image: Detroit Free Press