Muslims all around the world including the congregation at The Islamic Society of Central Jersey in Monmouth Junction, began their month of Ramadan or month of fasting on Monday.
By Azra Baig, Special Writer
Muslims all around the world including the congregation at The Islamic Society of Central Jersey in Monmouth Junction, began their month of Ramadan or month of fasting on Monday.
Ramadan is the holy month observed by Muslims by fasting, which entails refraining from consuming food, drinking liquids and engaging in sexual relations from dawn until sunset.
It also typically includes the increased offering of prayers and recitation of the Qur’an.
According to the doctrine, one of the goals of fasting is to recognize the blessings that God has given to the people.
During the month, observers strive to improve, or deepen their relationship with the divine.
ISCJ religious leader Imam Chebli said that the spiritual aspects of this month are more important.
He said that there is, “no lying, cheating, deceiving, and no harming others either by hand or tongue or bad feelings toward others.”
He encouraged everyone to, “Be the best”, not only during this month but throughout one’s life.
He then prayed to shower all human beings all over the world with peace.
The start of the month is based on sighting of the new moon since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
The lunar calendar is 10 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, which explains the start of the month being 10 days sooner every year.
This year the fast will be approximately 16 hours long each day starting at 4 a.m. and finishing at 8:30 p.m. in the evening.
According to the ISCJ’s website, fasting is an act of atonement for one’s errors and mistakes and that there are many benefits from this month.
Physically, one experiences what it feels like to be poor and hungry and teaches self-discipline and to have good character.
Through increased prayers and recitation of the holy book, the Qur’an, one can gain more spirituality and deeper faith.
The President of ISCJ, Muhammad Ashraf, said that doing good deeds such as giving more to charity, feeding the hungry, and being more forgiving are encouraged during this month.
At the start of Monday night prayers, he welcomed all the congregates and wished everyone, “Ramadan Kareem,” which means Happy Ramadan.
He thanked all the volunteers for all their efforts at ISCJ and prayed that God “give peace and tranquility, good health, prosperity and love” to everyone.
The special nightly prayers offered only during this month are called “Taraweeh” prayers.
They started after 10 p.m. and took almost two hours to complete.
There were approximately 400 hundred people in attendance during the prayers and people were seen greeting each other with hugs and wishing each other , “Happy Ramadan!” or “Ramadan Mubarak!”
Imam Chebli said that ISCJ has an open door for 30 nights and everyone is welcome to share in opening the fasts with congregation as it celebrates the month of Ramadan.
He also said that at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, the holiday , Eid ul Fitr, will be celebrated on Aug. 8.
He thanked the South Brunswick Board of Education for working with the Muslim community to have the Eid holidays off for the students in the public schools.
He also thanked Mayor Frank Gambatese, the South Brunswick Township Council and the South Brunswick Police Department for working together with the organization and for keeping everyone in the community safe.