News 5 looks at Ramadan in Bz.
The Garifuna culture might have centre stage this weekend, but today is an important date for Muslims throughout the world. When dawn broke this morning, it marked the start of Ramadan, a time when Muslims pay homage to God through special prayers and abstinence. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams went to the mosque on Central American Boulevard today to find out more about the tradition of the prayers.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
Starting today, Belize’s Muslim community joins fellow Muslims around the world in observing the Holy month of Ramadan. According to Muslim leader Imam Kaleem Elamin, Ramadan is celebrated on the ninth month of their lunar calendar and is designed to focus on the teachings of God.
Imam Kaleem Elamin, Muslin Leader
“The fasting starts from the time this evening when the sun sets, which is about 5:17. That’ll be the official beginning of the month of Ramadan. The Muslim is expected to fast from dawn, which would be about two minutes to 5:00 tomorrow morning. So a normal person, as recommended in the religion, should, he is not compelled, but he is recommended to get up early in the morning after 4:00 and then he can have a light meal and continue eating until just before the dawn breaks, which comes about 5:00. From that time, he is to abstain from food, drinking, but these are only the external, and they are not the critical part of the fasting at all.”
The important part as Elamin agrees, is not the abstention from food, water or sex, as they all can get used to that…
Imam Kaleem Elamin
“The critical part of the fasting according to the prophet, is that one should give up idle talk, insulting, back biting, and things that a person may normally slip into, making a bad comment or being sarcastic to people. And if he’s fasting and somebody comes and wants to quarrel, he should say, “No I am fasting.” He should not get into loud talk, insulting and these types of things. And that is the real essence of the fasting in the sense that a person tries to remember God and tries to get his best behaviour.”
An example of best behaviour was evident at midday, as Muslims gathers in the mosque for their congregational or Juma prayer…a ritual all Muslims engage in at this time of year.
Imam Kaleem Elamin
“If one keeps on coming to the Juma and behaves well, this is an option where all the evil deeds that he has been doing for the week, God can overlook them, as long as he remembers to come and make his regular Juma in the best fashion that he can. So it is looked at as a small celebration and it also gives Muslims and opportunity to meet on a weekly basis to have contacts with the rest of the community.”
Elamin admits that sometimes fasting can be difficult for Muslims, especially when Ramadan falls in June, July. The long, hot days are especially disadvantageous for them to go without water. When Ramadan comes at this time of year however, the days are cooler and shorter for one to go without food and water. But as critical as fasting may be to Muslims, certain members of their faith are exempted.
Imam Kaleem Elamin
“Children, the person that is sick, a woman that is pregnant, nursing or after childbirth, a person who is travelling or an elderly person. He can feed the person everyday in leu of his fasting. He should find a poor person and give them a plate of food. Also someone who has to do an extremely difficult job all the time and are in dire straits, they are also exempted from fasting. Because fasting is not really an exercise in ego, to say, well I am powerful or I am strong or any of these things, it’s something the religion says is only for God.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
After the thirty days of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate with a great feast or Eed. A sheep or cow is killed and all Muslims partake in marking the religious event.
