A few days this month, Muslims at the Islamic Education Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa will stay up all night, from sunset to sunrise, in observance of the holy month of Ramadan. On the other days, there will be prayer and fasting.
Fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began Monday and will continue through the end of September.
Throughout the month, members of the center will celebrate with food and prayer every evening after fasting from dawn until sunset. Just before sundown people will get together at the center to read collectively from the Koran, recite evening prayers and eat a meal of cheese, basil, mint, fruit, bread, meat and dates.
“The traditional breaking of the fast is the dates. It’s the biggest thing that people will break their fast on because this was one of the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad,” said center board member Fatima Saleh.
