Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
December 15, 2000 | Ferrara, David
Byline: David Ferrara Daily Herald Staff Writer
Mohammed Ikram Hussain and other Muslims call their evening meal during the holy month of Ramadan the breaking of the fast because they don’t eat or drink when the sun is out.
In a religiously diverse meeting Saturday, Muslim leaders in Lombard and Villa Park will gather with village officials and community leaders to explain the daily fast during Ramadan.
Muslims from the Islamic Circle of North America and the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park will give a brief lecture and explain the reasons for fasting around 4 p.m. Saturday at the Lombard Park District. Around 5:15 p.m., or after the sun has set, Muslims will share their meal with those who attend.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the lunar calendar, which Muslims follow. It falls on different days in the Gregorian calendar each year.
From sunrise to sunset each day during Ramadan, Muslims fast to strengthen relationships and beliefs and to empathize with people who don’t have food to eat every day. Depending on their strength, children can start fasting as young as age 9.
“Any healthy Muslim should fast to build the relation with God,” said Hussain, who lives in Lombard.
Hussain has young children and he said their school teachers wonder why Muslim students do not eat during the day. He invites teachers to learn about the holy month this weekend. Hussain also expects officials such as Lombard Village President Bill Mueller and fire and police chiefs from Villa Park and Lombard to attend the event.
Throughout Ramadan, which ends this year on Dec. 26, devout Muslims perform many other religious practices such as reciting the Koran, the Islamic holy book.
