Once a year, every year, Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by fasting, which is mainly abstaining from both food and drink from dawn (fajr) until sunset. This year, Ramadan started on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. Since the Muslim calendar (based on the hejira) is lunar, The month of Ramadan can last anywhere from 28 to 30 days and shifts every year.

Fasting or `sawm’ during Ramadan is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, the other four are: Shadeh (to profess belief in Allah and Mohamed his messenger), salat (prayer five times a day), Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca) and zakat (giving of alms and charity).

The meal eaten at sunset is called `iftar and the one eaten before dawn is called `suhur.’ The fasting also pertains to abstaining from profanity, gossip and anything harmful or evil. These things are considered bad for Muslims in general and they should not practice or participate in them anyways, but during Ramadan, staying away from profanity and gossip is considered just as important as not eating or drinking. Muslims fast to feel what it is like to be poor or unable to be without food and how it governs one’s actions. They also fast to test their will power and to cleanse themselves.

Around the middle of Ramadan, “Laylit al-adr’ or night of power occurs and it is said that the doors of heaven are open and God listens more intently to prayer on this night considered holy to all Muslims. After 228 to 30 days, Ramadan ends with `eid al-futr’ or eid al-saghir. On this day, Muslims traditionally buy new clothes for their children, give each other sweets and visit one another and wish each other `eid saeed’ or happy holiday. Another holiday or eid, Eid al-Udha Al- Mubarek, takes place almost 70 days later. It is also known as Eid Al-kabir or the big holiday and lasts for four days and occurs at the time of the Hajj (when Muslims visit Mecca (one of the holiest cities in Islam).

All practicing Muslims fast in accordance with the Quran and view Ramadan as a holy month, this practice is clearly evident in Dearborn where Arabs and Muslims make up 30 percent of the population and live close together in a tightly knit community. Although, Dearborn has seen a huge influx of Iraqis in recent years, the Arab and Muslim community is made up of many different peoples from various regions in the Middle East, mostly Lebanon.

Although Dearborn is usually a tight-knit community, this is even more apparent during the holy month of Ramadan in which the whole atmosphere of the city changes to accommodate the month and the `saymin’ or fasters.

 During Ramadan, Dearborn is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with restaurants, shops and bakeries opening later than usual to serve special Ramadan food imported from the Middle East such as jalab (a licorice flavored drink), qamr al-dine (apricot paste) and tamr (figs). Most of the shops and restaurants are also decorated with lights, like many Christians do during Christmas. `Iftar’ consists of a relatively popular and normal dinner foods from the Mediterranean and Arab regions. It is commenced with the eating of figs, normally from Saudi Arabia (the birthplace of Islam) because it is widely believed that Islam’s holy prophet Mohamed broke his fast by eating a fig and drinking water. Other staples of `iftar’ dinner are fattoush (a salad with bread and seasoning) and soup (usually lentil). Starting off with these foods is thought to help ease digestion.

After `iftar,’ many Muslims go to the mosques and other religious institutions to listen to lectures that cover not only religion, but also culture and history. Many also go out to the nearby cafes to smoke hookahs, eat special desserts (some of which are only available during Ramadan), drink Arabic tea and Arabic coffee and chat. Some stay out until suhur (the meal before dawn) and drink sahlab, which is a light milk-like drink with bread. During this time, the morning or fajr prayer is completed and many prepare for the next day, which is usually a regular workday (where hours aren’t cut back to accommodate those fasting during Ramadan).

“Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.” – Qur’an, Surat Al-Baqara, 2:185.