Ramadan

Thirst, hunger and fatigue shadow Muslims as they fast through the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar and is recognized as the fasting month for Muslims. From sunrise to sunset, Muslims refrain from food and water, among other things, for an entire month. Muslims in Southern California will fast for nearly 16 hours each day. For Muslims, the fast is recognized as one of the greatest acts of worship. For a fasting person, the objective of the fast entails a variety of spiritual, ethical and moral refinement, and physical consciousness.

I will be among about 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide who will begin fasting from sunrise to sunset Wednesday. We will observe Ramadan by praying during the night and fasting during the day for the next month. Ramadan, Muslims' holy month, is an exciting time for me. You'd think that with no food or water all day, I'd be upset and grumpy. But the opposite is true. Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan isn't just about abstaining from food and water, it's about exercising discipline, self-restraint and generosity, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

Deepa Bharath Local Muslims expect today will be the first day of the month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, introspection and prayer. During this month, Muslims all over the world abstain from food and water during the daytime, said Imam Mostafa Al-Qazwini, who heads the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa. "We break our fast only a few minutes after sunset," he said. It's a season "of unity, peace, sharing and serving the poor," Qazwini said.

Bryce Alderton COSTA MESA -- Kamal Chohan stood with Omar Jaber in the bright sunlight Sunday at the Orange County Fairgrounds as the two waited to go to a carnival, eat food with family and friends and exchange gifts. They, along with about 12,000 Muslim worshipers, had just finished an hourlong prayer service Sunday morning as part of Eid al-Fitr, the first of a three-day celebration signifying the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Kamal, 16, and Jaber, 21, were off to a carnival at the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove, followed by visits to friends and family to enjoy food and one another's company.

Lolita Harper COSTA MESA -- During a time of renewed focus on the religion of Islam following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, local Muslim leaders said this year's celebration of Ramadan will focus on inclusion and education. When the sun rises Saturday morning, the Muslim community will begin the monthlong holiday, vowing to concentrate on God and abstain from from food, drink and "sensual pleasures" from sun up to sunset. While the holy celebration is deeply rooted in self-purification, Imam Moustafa Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County said he wants the holiday to also serve as an open invitation for non-Muslims to learn about Islamic culture.

Danette Goulet COSTA MESA -- By the time the new moon came into view Thursday evening, signaling the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Eid-Ul Fitr celebration, Islamic leaders in Orange County had found a place to gather. Although worshipers may have to pray in two shifts at the Orange County Fairgrounds, at least they have a place to gather, said Thomas Thorkelson, president of the Orange County region of the National Conference for Community and Justice.

Ramadan began Monday with special significance for Orange County Muslims, who celebrated the democratic tide washing over Egypt and Tunisia but also expressed concern for those who remain in peril in Syria, Libya and other Middle Eastern dictatorships. "It's definitely a Ramadan with a different taste," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area, in Anaheim. "It comes as the first Ramadan under freedom to tens of millions of Muslims around the world, but who are still dealing with the challenges of instability and the unknown.

Danette Goulet NEWPORT-MESA -- With the first ray of dawn this morning came the start of the Muslim fast of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during whichMuslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from the break of dawn to sunset. Through the fast, Muslims hope to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity. For the Pierstorff family of Costa Mesa, it is an exciting and spiritual time. "It's incredible," said 25-year-old Ahmed Pierstorff.

During Islam's holy month, the faithful gather each Sunday at a local center to break the fast.Fasting from dawn until dusk during the holy month of Ramadan is a common practice for those who follow the teachings of the Koran. It is, perhaps, the most widely recognized component of the annual observance. And Iftar -- the fast-breaking ceremony -- often is the most joyous time of day for Muslims. Inside the Islamic Education Center of Orange County, a one-level building near John Wayne Airport, throngs of Ramadan observers congregate Sunday evenings to dine together and share in ceremonial prayer.

Thirst, hunger and fatigue shadow Muslims as they fast through the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar and is recognized as the fasting month for Muslims. From sunrise to sunset, Muslims refrain from food and water, among other things, for an entire month. Muslims in Southern California will fast for nearly 16 hours each day. For Muslims, the fast is recognized as one of the greatest acts of worship. For a fasting person, the objective of the fast entails a variety of spiritual, ethical and moral refinement, and physical consciousness.

Ramadan began Monday with special significance for Orange County Muslims, who celebrated the democratic tide washing over Egypt and Tunisia but also expressed concern for those who remain in peril in Syria, Libya and other Middle Eastern dictatorships. "It's definitely a Ramadan with a different taste," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area, in Anaheim. "It comes as the first Ramadan under freedom to tens of millions of Muslims around the world, but who are still dealing with the challenges of instability and the unknown.

Friends, you probably know that Wednesday evening began the celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Thursday marked the end of Ramadan. I spent Wednesday night celebrating Rosh Hashanah with a gathering of rabbis. Together we prayed, sang, ate, laughed and loved as we welcomed in the new year. Muslims mark the end of Ramadan with a celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which takes place over a number of days. This year one of those days falls on Saturday, which, sadly, also marks the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

I will be among about 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide who will begin fasting from sunrise to sunset Wednesday. We will observe Ramadan by praying during the night and fasting during the day for the next month. Ramadan, Muslims' holy month, is an exciting time for me. You'd think that with no food or water all day, I'd be upset and grumpy. But the opposite is true. Fasting during Ramadan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan isn't just about abstaining from food and water, it's about exercising discipline, self-restraint and generosity, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

Hasn’t everyone? For me, journeys of forgiveness begin with choosing non-retaliation, traveling through prayer and understanding, and, ideally, arriving at compassion; the process moves from hostility to hospitality. If I embrace the joy of God’s creativity in place of my own hurt and weakness, then God’s love can make me strong and rich and able to give and forgive. Forgiveness from the heart and mind is difficult, but once done what is shared is the laughter of God. The Very Rev. Canon Peter D. Haynes St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church of Corona del Mar How can one not struggle with forgiveness?

Muslims worldwide have embarked on one of the holiest months in the Islamic Lunar calendar — Ramadan, the fasting month. From pre-dawn until dusk, Muslims will observe nearly 14 hours without food or drink for the entire month. Abstaining from food and liquid is the fast’s basic physical practice for Muslims, but Ramadan plays a more significant aspect in their lives. Muslims welcome Ramadan as a chance to become closer with God. It is a monthlong marathon of spiritual revival, reflection and change.

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.

Imam Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini is the founding Imam at the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County. Last week he hosted an interfaith Ramadan dinner with other local religious leaders in Newport-Mesa. With Iraq in the news lately and Muslims celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, we asked him a few questions about current events and his outreach efforts.   Question: The Islamic Educational Center of Orange County has done a lot of outreach to the community during Ramadan.

In the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast daily from sunrise to sunset. While it is a time for sacrifice, reflection and renewed faith, this year, area Muslims are also focusing on reaching out to those of other faiths. Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Education Center of Orange County hosted an interfaith dinner Saturday with other local religious leaders in Costa Mesa. “My speech focused on peacemaking,” Al-Qazwini said.