This article was written by Dr. Syed Hasan Akhtar, 

member of the Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association (IABA) in Austin 

The Islamic month of Ramadan this year started on June 7. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar year. It is divinely ordained as the holy month of fasting. Fasting is not unique to Muslims; other prophets and their followers also observed fasting.

The Qur’an says this: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves (against evil)” (2:183)

According to a sermon of Prophet Muhammad (p), during Ramadan: “Give alms to the needy and poor, honor your elders, show kindness to your young, keep contact with your relatives, guard your tongues, avoid looking at what is not permitted, avoid listening to what is not permissible, and show compassion to the orphans, so that your orphans may receive compassion. Repent to God for your sins, and raise your hands in supplication during the times of prayer, for those are the best of times, and God looks upon his servants with mercy, and responds to them if they call on Him, and gives them what they ask, and grants them their needs if they supplicate to Him.”

All the acts of worship during the fasting month are geared towards pleasing Almighty God, to erase sins and misdeeds, and to earn heavenly rewards.

The fast begins before sunrise and ends after sunset. In summer the days are long, so in Austin one would fast for about 16 hours. Muslims spend extra time reading the scripture (the Holy Qur’an), additional optional prayers, night vigils, supplications, and other acts of devotional worship.

During the day, they must not eat, drink, or smoke. They must avoid actions like backbiting, lying, and unnecessary arguments. All permitted foods and other lawful activities are allowed after breaking the fast after sunset.

This is the month of reaching out to relatives and friends. It is preferred that communities get together to break the fast and pray together. Feeding the poor and less privileged is highly recommended. Providing food to a fasting person is highly rewarded. Mending broken relations, being forgiving to others, and asking forgiveness of others is highly encouraged.

The worldwide Muslim population is estimated at 1.25 billion. Cultural practices dominate in many communities around the world. In some communities, the evenings after breaking the fast assume a festive atmosphere. People stay out late at night, crowding the markets, shopping, eating, and socializing.

At the end of the month of fasting, Muslims join to perform a congregational prayer marking the end of fasting.  Before the onset of the prayer, a fixed amount of charity is put aside for the poor and needy. This is required by each family if they are able to afford it. This is followed by festivities and embraces. Sweets and foods are exchanged.

In Austin there is emphasis on advancing religious knowledge in this month. At the Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association (IABA) of Austin, we invite scholars during the month of Ramadan to teach and guide us.

We hosted an Interfaith Ramadan program on June 15, open to people of all faiths. About 30 guests came from various congregations. After a sermon by Sheikh Ja’far Muhibullah, a panel of scholars answered questions relating to fasting and spirituality.  We then prayed and ate dinner together.

On June 18, the first annual Austin City-Wide Ramadan Iftar (dinner) at the Texas Union Ballroom, was hosted by a non-profit organization, American Muslim Civic Ambassadors (AMCA).  About 200 people attended the program. The aim of the organization is to create a civic engagement platform to bridge the gap between elected officials, and the Muslim community of Austin.

The Mayor of Austin, Steve Adler and the First Lady, as well as Mohammed Khairullah, Mayor of Prospect Park, New Jersey, were the chief guests. After the evening congregational prayers, we broke fast with a delicious dinner.

This year, Independence Day (July 4) will be just a few days before the Eid festival, which gives American Muslims the opportunity to reflect. The freedom to practice one’s religion is a great privilege that the U.S. Constitution guarantees its citizens. This is something we cherish, which a great number of people around the world do not have.

Each year when I prepare for the month of Ramadan, there is a certain degree of anxiety and anticipation. I pray to Almighty God that my health allows me to carry out all the obligations of this month. I postpone all non-essential activities, re-schedule non-essential travel, and keep up with all the religious and worldly obligations. I give extra charity, call relatives and friends to wish them a happy, blessed, and rewarding Ramadan. During the month, my wife and I spend many of the evenings at our religious center volunteering, as well as praying and eating together with the community members.  We also invite others to our home to break the fast, to increase blessings of the month.