Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the 12-month Muslim calendar. There are several reasons that you've probably heard the name Ramadan, but not, say Muharram or Rajab (the first and seventh months respectively).
Reason No. 1: Ramadan is the holiest month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims believe that it was during Ramadan that the Quran (Islam's holy book) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. To understand the significance of Ramadan to Muslims, imagine a Christmas that lasts 29 days.
Reason No. 2: American politicians mention Ramadan relatively frequently. As in previous years, President Bush issued a Ramadan greeting to America's 7 million Muslims. "Laura and I send our best wishes for a blessed Ramadan."
You may also remember back in 1998, President Clinton arguing that the bombing campaign he launched against Iraq was timed to avoid Ramadan: "For us to initiate military action during Ramadan would be profoundly offensive to the Muslim world and therefore would damage our relations with Arab countries and the progress we have made in the Middle East." You know, because it's totally inoffensive to get bombed on non-holidays.
Reason No. 3: Ramadan is increasingly popular among the young people because it has spawned so many catchy songs. "On the fourth day of Ramadan, my Imam gave to me, four funny fatwas, three jumping jihads, two happy hijabs and a bag filled with halal meats."
Reason No. 4: Ramadan's practices are quite intriguing to the 290-plus million Americans who are not Muslim.
Tops on the intrigue list is the Muslim practice of not eating or drinking in the daytime during Ramadan. That's a hard one for Americans to figure out. That there are non-actresses/models in this country who go out of their way to not eat is a profound challenge to American ways of thinking. American holidays (religious and civic) revolve around binge eating. "Please use a clean plate for each trip to the buffet. Thank you." might as well be in the Constitution.
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan? Fasting is one of the five pillars of the Muslim faith (the others are acknowledging that there's one God and that Muhammad was his final and awesomest prophet, praying five times daily, giving alms, and going on the traditional pilgrimage to Mecca). The point of fasting is to temporarily defer physical gratification, which is supposed to instill discipline, help Muslims understand the plight of the needy and bring them closer to God.
During Ramadan, Muslims eat a meal shortly before sunrise and another shortly after. Before the evening meal, however, it is traditional (though not required) to break the fast with a snack of dates and water. Yum.
Food isn't the only thing you're supposed give up in the daytime during Ramadan. The rules of Ramadan say ixnay on the uckingfay while you're fasting. You can still get busy at night though, after you've eaten.
If a Muslim unintentionally breaks the fast during the daytime (which I can totally understand -- just the other day I mindlessly downed an entire bag of Chips Ahoy while reading a Vanity Fair on my couch), it's not a huge deal. Just wipe away the crumbs, feel remorseful and pick up where you left off.
If, however, a Muslim breaks the fast intentionally, he/she must make up the day and also pay a penalty. Possible "fines" include 60 days of additional fasting, feeding 60 meals to the poor or freeing a slave. That's why I'm never gonna be a Muslim. Damned if I'm gonna risk getting rid of my slaves (or, as we call them in the newspaper biz, interns).
The month that follows Ramadan is called Shawwal. On the first day of Shawwal, Muslims let loose with a holiday called Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is merrier than Ramadan. People dress up, exchange gifts and eat a lot. If you hear your Muslim neighbors throwing down around Oct. 24, they're celebrating Eid al-Fitr. If you like them, wish them a Happy Eid.
Contact Andisheh at andisheh@creativeloafing.com.