On June 19, over 10 million Muslims in America began observing the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month in which the holy book of Islam, the Holy Qur’an, was revealed. During Ramadan, able-bodied Muslims fast from dusk till dawn in an effort to reflect and pray.
However, one of my most favorite aspects of Ramadan is the charitable spirit that spreads through communities. Observers are encouraged to give, even beyond giving up eating during the day, for the month in order to remember the struggle of those less fortunate. For example, one year during Ramadan my sister took sandwiches with her on her way to work every day and gave them to those less fortunate on her route.
My youth group, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, embodies this same notion of charity. This year, we are working to feed 100,000 Americans and collect 5,000 pints of blood. We are halfway to meeting the mark, so I encourage all Americans to help us reach our goal. Learn more at muslimyouth.org!
Ibrahim Ijaz
Ann Arbor
