WHAT IS RAMADAN?

How many of you knew that the 1.5 billion Muslims are currently fasting, in their most sacred month, Ramadan, marking when Allah first gave chapters of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad in 610?  The consumption of food, sex and smoking of course are allowed after sunset to  sunrise.  Mind you, not even drinking of water during daylight.  This year, it began around May 5, depending on the sighting of the moon, and will begin to end tomorrow (in the USA), when you finish the fast by eating dates during the evening meal. 

The next day will be Eid al-Fitr, a religious holiday, no fasting anymore, but, more importantly, the next stage, when you bestow money to the poor and needy, and perform congregational ritual prayers in a loud voice.

Details vary by country, but, say, in Saudi Arabia, homes are decorated and sumptuous meals are provided by the most senior member to family and friends, followed by further gifting to children and immediate relatives.    Now that this special worship, patience and fasting period to create a stronger bond with the Lord is over, generosity and hospitality prevail, and fireworks shows are common.

What does an NBA player do if he is in the playoffs?  This was a first for Enes Kanter (in the middle) of the Portland Trailblazers.  He has breakfast of yogurt, fruit and peanut butter, and drinks as much water as possible, before sunrise, not even taking any medicines or being treated for his sore shoulder, then playing at night against the Denver Nuggets.  The Trailblazers so respects Kanter's dedication that they built a prayer room for him, something he uses five times/day.  Actually, to condition himself for that coming inevitable, he was this year fasting once or twice a week anyway.

The final game against the Nuggets  had tip off at Noon.  However, he was able to play on an empty stomach and no water to beat them.  He played 40 minutes and finished with 12 points and rebounds, about his average. They did subsequently lose to the Golden State Warriors.

But more than basketball, something good is happening around Ramadan in the U.S.  As fasting ends at sunset, in Dearborn, Michigan, food trucks serving halal cuisine convene for "suhoor" time (the food consumed before sunrise during Ramadan), with scents of the Middle East.  Non-Muslims are welcomed.  Less than ten miles away is Detroit, where the dozen mosques of 30 years ago have grown to 30, and here, too, crowds gather at night to break bread, with hot dogs (yes, there are halal versions) cheesesteaks and shawarma, slivers of seasoned meats.

Some complain the sacred is being sacrificed for food, but people are being brought together, binding the community and building bridges...the principle of any holy month.  This is an antidote to hostility.  Education will ultimately make the difference, but Ramadan could well accelerate the process.

The larger festivals will occur on Tuesday for Eid al-Fitr.  Cities like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago will host tens of thousands, but usually over the weekend, from June 7-9.

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