![\"\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/ramadan-300x226.jpg\" "\\"ramadan\\"")
It is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.\u00a0 It is a period of fasting and spiritual reflection. It is one of the five “pillars” of Islam. Yes! It is Ramadan.\u00a0 The greatest religious observance in Islam has begun.<\/p>\nIt is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.\u00a0 It is a period of fasting and spiritual reflection. It is one of the five “pillars” of Islam. Yes! It is Ramadan.\u00a0 The greatest religious observance in Islam has begun.<\/p>\n
Intended to teach patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God, Muslims around the world are focusing on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment.\u00a0 Muslims will abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal of\u00a0 Iftar with the eating of a date \u2014 just as Prophet Muhammad did and the call\u00a0 for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers.<\/p>\n
Thus is the establishment of a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others.<\/p>\n
\u2018This do ye in remembrance of me.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, the social and political aspects of Ramadan must not be overlooked.\u00a0 Not only is\u00a0 Ramadan\u00a0 a time for self-reflection and sharing but\u00a0 the positive contributions of Muslims to American\u00a0\u00a0 society\u00a0 in acts of service and giving back to the community\u00a0 should not go\u00a0 by unnoticed.<\/p>\n
It is here that the meaning of \u2018umma\u2019 or community, so central to Islam in its ideal form is seen.\u00a0 While fasting redirects the heart away from worldly activities, cleanses the inner soul and frees it from harm, the practice of self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate encourage actions of generosity and charity.<\/p>\n
Iftar brings fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities together\u00a0 and the unifying aspects of Islam are clearly seen. Ramadan imposes a truce on all hostilities in the same way that lent is to Christians, Yum Kippur is to Jews or thanksgiving is to Americans.<\/p>\n
At this opportune time when\u00a0\u00a0 “extremist” or “discriminatory” views of Islam\u00a0 have dominated the airwaves in the past weeks\u00a0 and\u00a0 manipulated and\u00a0\u00a0 biased feelings by the media\u00a0 present a negative image about Islam, Ramadan\u00a0 shows that Islam is\u00a0 a peaceful and fair religion that most often does not correspond to the media\u2019s reports.<\/p>\n
While the anti-Muslim sentiments\u00a0 of Anders\u00a0 Breivik in Norway\u00a0\u00a0 still\u00a0 resounds\u00a0 in everyone\u2019s ears,\u00a0 leading anti-Muslim nationalist\u00a0 along with American right-wing, and\u00a0 anti-Muslim writers have\u00a0 not denounced Breivik\u2019s acts and ideas,\u00a0 and\u00a0 are continuing to use Islam\u00a0 as a part\u00a0 of an ideological label.<\/p>\n
According to Professor Edward Said, \u2018Islam is peculiarly traumatic news in the West\u2019\u2026 Islam has licensed not only patent inaccuracy, but also expressions of unrestrained ethnocentrism, cultural, and even racial hatred, deep yet paradoxically free-floating hostility \u2026\u2019<\/p>\n
In this holy month of peace and renewal, may westerners and others learn the truth about Islam and find out that these negative stereotypes are incorrect. May the media, the geopolitical strategists, those vying for political office and the academic expert understand it, and report about it in a positive manner thus celebrating the brave American Muslims who are helping to shape the future of America with mutual respect and cooperation among all the citizens of the world.<\/p>\n
When historically constituted Islam promotes the practices of equality and inclusion in a democratic cultural order and is the best example of an equal gender society. It is hoped that Muslims will be able to continue their charitable obligations not just during Ramadan, but throughout the year.\u00a0\u00a0 Muslims in America and around the world should be congratulated on this blessed achievement.<\/p>\n
Rebecca Theodore was born on the north coast of Dominica and is now based in Atlanta GA. She writes on national security and political issues and can be reached at rebethd@comcast.net<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.\u00a0 It is a period of fasting and spiritual reflection. It is one of the five “pillars” of Islam. Yes! It is Ramadan.\u00a0 The greatest religious observance in Islam has…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":40985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n