By Imran Malik

Per the Islamic lunar calendar Saturday, March 1st, 2025, marks as the first day of the holy month of Ramadan (fasting) for Muslim communities in most of North America. The 2+ billion Muslims around the globe observe the ritual of fasting from dawn to dusk during these 29/30 days of this lunar month. Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak are common ways of greeting this season and both means – have a blessed or generous Ramadan!

During the daily observed fasting times, the fasting person abstains from intake of any food or water and is in the state of spiritual journey with consistent mindfulness of Allah/God’s presence in his/her life affairs. Fasting during this month is an obligation for all mentally and physically capable Muslim — men and women. There are concessions and  exceptions for those who are in state of sickness, travels or other hardships of life. 

The deeper and more profound purpose of fasting are — 

i) To strengthen one’s spiritual bond with the Creator

ii) Foster and better relationships with one’s — family, kins and community

iii) Reflect and enact upon values of social empathy.

 Fasting, promotes the drive to take ownership of one’s role as a community servant and volunteer care-taking of  fellow humans, specifically those who are in need. It’s an individual act of worship and self-discipline but it’s benefits are meant to be communal and collective. 

In-short, this ritual of worship promotes practices of giving back (monetarily and in-kind) and observing consistent remembrance of Allah/God in one’s life at all times. Many scholars believe that it’s not only cleansing of our physical body and worldly belongings but more importantly one’s mind and spirit that are needed to be purified to become genuinely a good Samaritan in a society and fasting is one such prescribed Divinely ritual that can assist us to reach that state. 

Ramadan is also believed to be the month when the Islamic holy book of Quran (Devine Guidance) was revealed to Prophet Muhammed (peace be uponhim) over 1400 years ago in the cave of Hirra in the valleys of Makkah. This month is believed to be a month of Barakah (blessings) for all of  mankind. 

(Imran Malik is an Interfaith leader of Central Ohio. He is cofounder of Safe Alliance of Interfaith Leaders (SAIL) and the inductee of Columbus City’s Hall of Fame (class of 2023) 

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