Ramadan

As Cinco de Mayo was being celebrated in the United States, the Muslim season of Ramadan began the same day in Kenya. Ramadan is the period of Fasting for 30 days between sunrise and sunset. Muslims eat after 6:20pm prayer and again between 3:30-4:00am before they begin their first of five callings to prayer each day. It is a time they long for and they joyously fast as they believe it pulls them closer to God. They also believe that the gates to heaven are open and the gates of hell are closed.
 
I live along the coast of Kenya where the percentage of Muslims is 38%, the largest of all religions with Catholics secondary at 35%, so I live among many. I do not recall ever knowing a Muslim before arriving to Mombasa, but now I have several who are close friends. Before I arrived, my shallow knowledge of Muslims was associated with Islamic terrorism.

One of the beliefs are to always maintain a pleasant relationship, resolve their issues among one another in a peaceful manner. I was able to spend a week on the island of Zanzibar this past December,  where Muslims consist of 90-95% of the population. Zanzibar is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, but really stood out to me was how peaceful and joyous the people are. People there are just plain happy, “hakuna matata” is the mantra.
 
One of the traditions during Ramadan is the preparation of food. My neighbors want me to experience these foods and this is what was brought to me tonight. They have also invited me to fast with them and I have learned that they are praying that I can continue the entire 30 days. I have completed the first 3 days. I have been wanting to fast for the past several years, but never really seemed to understand it nor did it seem appealing. My best attempt at it was while in Medjugorje on a pilgrimage. They would eat only bread and water every Wednesday and Friday. After returning home I continued the two-day fasting, but by the end a month, I found myself consuming two large loaves of bread per day and continued to be hungry, so I stopped as this was not good for my health to be consuming that amount of white flour.
 
The Islamic Calendar is a lunar one, and the months go according to the various positions of the moon. The time of Fasting comes with the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the year. In Islam, one abstains from the things of material and moral nourishment. The Muslim empties his stomach of all the material things, to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and faith, to fill his mind with wisdom and resolution. Quite beautiful I must conclude.
 
Ramadan Kareem!......Happy Ramadam!