By Johan Amaro Gonzalez and Luis Rodriguez
The holy month of Ramadan is upon us and Muslims around the world both Shia and Sunni come together to fast and fill their daily lives with prayer during the day and night, others also fill their days with actions of Humanics, such as giving back to their communities, donations, and volunteer work. Many find this a month to reflect on their past year to reconnect with their deen, while others enjoin in nightly family gatherings to reconnect with family from back home. Others make trips to Saudi Arabia or Iraq to make the pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca and Medina (Saudi Arabia) or visit the Shrines of the Imams in Karbala and Najaf(Iraq).
Mumin Mazhar, graduate student in the PA program
“Ramadan is a month in our Islamic calendar that happens once a year. It’s a time where we try to reconnect with God, we spend our days fasting; so that means no food or drink and we try our best to avoid doing anything bad and just trying to do good. We connect with God throughout the month, through prayers during the nighttime we do our daily prayers during the daytime and it’s a time where families get together and I think everybody enjoys.”
“I think this event went very well. We had a mix of students and faculty here and Muslims from the community, as well as some non-Muslims who came out to support us and I think it’s really good to see that we’re reaching out and people are just getting a better understanding of Islam as whole”
Shaikh Mirza Yawar Baig, Muslim Chaplain for Springfield College
“To better understand the Muslim Religion one should immerse themselves in a community that practices it, as you cannot understand any group of people without making contact and interacting with them.”
Shaikh Omar Dar, Muslim Chaplain for Amherst College and Resident Scholar at Masjid Baitus Salaam in Springfield
“When you meet your local Muslims you’ll realize that they are just normal people just like yourself.”
“The month of Ramadan is a month of charity, and gaining closeness to god”
Photo by Johan Amaro Gonzalez/The Student