Religious perspectives

Q: What's the story behind some of your religious holidays and ceremonies?

Most people don't know much about Ramadan, besides that Muslims celebrate it, and it has a reputation for being somber. However, what most don't realize is that Ramadan is a festive occasion.

Ramadan just ended a few days ago, so people have been asking me to explain it. The first thing I tell them is it's a time when Muslims around the world (all 1.5 billion of us) fast, abstaining from food and drink, for a month.

To which the curious person asks, "A month? Wouldn't you die?"

That's when I usually explain that we don't actually fast for a solid month. Muslims fast everyday from dawn to dusk. So we're allowed to eat and drink at night. Although it appears much more impressive when it sounds like you're not eating anything — take that, Atkins.

Besides not eating, Muslims perform extra prayers called taraweeh and tahjud, which sometimes last for hours. We try to read as much Quran as we can, or supplicate to God all night in a mosque.

I heard someone describe Ramadan as the, "one month out of the year where we can all sort of be fanatics."

It's an occasion where you focus on the spiritual and try to realign your behavior for the rest of the year.

But all this fasting in the day and prayer stuff at night gives Ramadan a kind of reserved air. As Krusty the Clown once said: "So, have a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a kwaazy Kwanza, a tip-top Tet and a solemn, dignified Ramadan."

"Solemn and dignified"? If a yellow-skinned cartoon character on national TV is saying it, then you know it's got to be a common belief.

Sure it's a solemn time. We believe it's a blessed month mandated by God, but just because something is solemn doesn't mean it's dour. A big part of Ramadan is about community, getting in touch with friends, visiting relatives and massive dinner parties.

There's nothing wrong with socializing. In fact, Muslims are encouraged to be social in order to build unity, and Ramadan is a perfect time to do it. It's a time of year where you know you share a common goal — pleasing God and waiting for that dang sun to go down.

And all those extra prayers I mentioned? Most of the time you're praying with other people who are seeking to maximize the benefits that Ramadan offers.

We believe that the rewards for doing good deeds are multiplied during Ramadan. You'll find Muslims being extra generous, giving money to charity, inviting people to dinner and working in community service.

Ramadan in the United States is more difficult than in predominantly Muslim countries because it's hard to fast when everyone around you is chowing down.

I grew up overseas and when Ramadan rolls around, everything changes. Streets are decorated, all the stores have sales and, best yet, practically everyone fasts during the day. No luscious smells to tempt you. Believe me, when you're ravenous, even food from the HUB starts to sound good.

Once dusk rolls around, all the restaurants open, and people stay out all night, going to mosques, visiting or shooting off fireworks.

But despite the fact Muslims in the United States don't have the convenience of inverted business hours during Ramadan, we still manage to find time to do a lot of the same festive things.

People try to out-cook each other, and I can honestly say that despite fasting for most of the day, I manage to gain weight. The freshman 15 has nothing on Ramadan pounds.

Since it's a happy time, it's perfectly fine to wish a Muslim a "merry" or a "happy Ramadan." But if you want to be really chic about it, the traditional greeting is Ramadan Mubarak, or "have a blessed Ramadan." Try it on a Muslim next year. Trust me, they'll appreciate it.

Ramadan isn't grim, and Muslims aren't always somber. I know I'm not smiling in my own mug shot. But that's just because I don't like my teeth, not because I don't have a sense of humor.

Ramadan, although being a solemn occasion, is also festive. However, if we really want to talk about festivities, don't get me started on Eid al-Fitr, the celebration when Ramadan ends. I mean, can you say, "Hello presents?"

[Reach contributing writer Zakariya Dehlawi at opinion@thedaily.washington.edu.]