Celebrating Islam’s holiest month in the city of brotherly love, with Marwa A.
Fasting from sunrise to sunset? Yes, this is what you do during Ramadan! Every day, no food or water from dawn to sunset. Fun Fact: 80% of US Muslims observe Ramadan. It makes little difference if someone was born here or overseas, or whether black or white, man or woman, or even how devoutly they follow the other Five Pillars of Islam. Ramadan is a yearly spiritual boot camp that strengthens and connects all Muslims.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, so the date fluctuates depending on the moon that year. Ramadan this year began in late March and so it’ll end in late April, with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr at the appearance of the new crescent moon. A typical day during Ramadan often begins with morning prayer well before dawn, when many Muslims will try to eat and drink enough to carry them through the day of fasting.
From there our day goes on as usual with school, work, and other duties as we wait for the sun to go down. The fast is broken with a meal called Iftar, which tends to follow a process, starting off with dates and yogurt, as well as nuts, raisins, and seeds to give everyone a jolt of sugar and protein before the evening prayer. Then usually a soup is served, along with traditional dishes that are served during Ramadan. For my household, it’s often Biryani (spiced chicken and rice), and Kebab. There are also plates of fresh fruit, delicious breads and cheeses, halal meats and vegetables. And don’t get me started on all the delicious pastries, cookies, custards.
Pro Tip: Go easy on the sweets after a day of fasting, or you can get a stomach ache. Best to wait at least an hour after a full meal before attempting dessert.
All month long, this evening meal gathers friends and family together after a long day of abstaining. As you can imagine, it’s quite a powerful bond to finally relax and enjoy food and drink again. All across the city – across the country, across the world! – Muslims are synchronized in an ancient ritual that goes back to the seventh century, when the Prophet Mohammad received his first revelation.
Honoring Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam, ordained in the Qur’an as an act of deep personal worship in which to seek a richer perception of God. It’s also a time for charitable giving, community service, and good deeds in general. The hunger, thirst, and weakness we experience while fasting reminds us what it’s like to be in need, building empathy and inspiring action for the less fortunate.
The end of Ramadan kicks off one of Islam’s two major holidays, Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival that marks the end of the fasting period when it’s literally commanded to eat. During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims gather with friends and family to exchange gifts and share abundant meals of special festive foods. They also wear new clothes to celebrate.
This year, Ramadan begins on the evening of Friday, February 28th; the last day is Saturday March 29th and then Eid al-Fitr begins at sundown, lasting until Sunday March 30th.
To wish your Muslim friends a good holy month, you can say “Ramadan Mubarak,” “Ramadan Kareem,” or even just “Happy Ramadan.”
If you’re curious to know more about Ramadan or Arab communities in Philadelphia in general, please write me at editor@nwlocalpaper.com or even better check out the Friends, Peace and Sanctuary Journal — Philadelphia’s first Arabic newspaper in 120 years, you can find it at various locations around the city, or read it online here for great articles, recipes, and insights to enrich our lives.
Celebrate the great energy and diversity in this quickly-growing segment of our population with fast facts and links for cultural exploration: “Shining Through the Centuries,” (April 11, 2023).
🌈🚀 THE MORE YOU KNOW: Not all Muslims are Arabs, nor are all Arabs Muslim. In fact most Arab-Americans (63 – 77%) are Christian — and furthermore the majority of US Muslims are non-Arab. 🤓
Feature image for this post appears courtesy of the author. This post was originally published April 11, 2023 (links & dates have been updated for 2025).
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