Dear Friends,
Yesterday evening at sunset, the Islamic month of Ramadan began. This is the month during which the 1.8 billion Muslims around the world fast from dawn to dusk every day. The fast (Sawm in Arabic) is undertaken to encourage a feeling of nearness to God. During the fast, Muslims express their gratitude for and dependence on God, and they atone for past sins, practice self-control, and think of the needy. The fast is not required for those for whom it would be an undue burden. The traditional greeting during these holy days is “Ramadan Mubarak” (“RAH-mah-dahn moo-BAR-ahk”), which means, “May God give you a blessed month.” The traditional response is “Ramadan Karim” (“RAH-mah-dahn KAH-reem”), which means, “May God give you a generous month.”
When the month of Ramadan is completed, Muslims celebrate Id al-Fitr (“id AHL-fih-ter”), or the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast. This holiday lasts for three days, during which family members gather to feast and exchange gifts.
Ramadan is one of the five “Pillars of Islam,” or rules of the faith, which comprise the framework of Islamic belief and worship. The others are: the creed or belief (Shahad), prayer (Salah) five times a day, almsgiving (Zakat), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) at least once in a lifetime for those physically and financially able to make the journey.
I share this very basic introduction to Islam as a way for our community of faith here in Scottsville to broaden our awareness and understanding of this major world religion. More importantly, I share it so we’ll enjoy a deeper understanding of the people themselves, including the 3.5 million Muslims in the United States, some of whom may be our neighbors and friends.
In this time of unyielding pandemic anxiety and suffering, I invite you to remember that God is with us, now and always. God loves us, now and always, and God invites us to love one another as God loves us. I hope the simple, but challenging, act of contemplating the immensity of God’s love will bring you solace, comfort, and peace in these anxious times.
The three Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – all worship the same God, and all of us are especially focused on God at this time of pandemic and within our respective religious calendars. Passover ended last week; Ramadan began last night; and we are in the midst of the fifty-day period of Eastertide.
I offer the following prayer for you this day from Beliefnet.com. It seems a most appropriate prayer to share as we worship the one God whose love for us and our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers is eternal and unconditional. Let us pray together:
O God, you are the source of life and peace.
Praised be your name forever.
We know it is you who turns our minds to thoughts of peace.
Hear our prayer in this time of crisis.
Your power changes hearts.
Muslims, Christians, and Jews remember, and profoundly affirm, that they are followers of the one God, Children of Abraham, brothers and sisters; enemies begin to speak to one another; those who were estranged join hands in friendship; nations seek the way of peace together.
Strengthen our resolve to give witness to these truths by the way we live.
Give to us: Understanding that puts an end to strife; Mercy that quenches hatred; and Forgiveness that overcomes vengeance.
Empower all people to live in your law of love. Amen.