RAMADAN FAST HELPS MUSLIMS REALIZE THEIR STRENGTH
By Monica Potts – Staff Writer

Stamford Advocate, CT
Published September 15 2007

NEW CANAAN -ÊDuring her first year of medical school in 1991,
Dr. Shahrzad Mohammadi began fasting for Ramadan. Most of her Muslim
colleagues thought it was too arduous with the demands they faced
in school.

But Mohammadi, now a 40-year-old pediatrician who lives in New Canaan,
was inspired to fast when she met a "quiet, dignified" colleague
who did.

Advertisement "It creates this discipline in you by abstaining from
food, water and earthly pleasures," she said. "It makes you realize
you are far stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Since then, her observance of Ramadan has evolved to include preparing
iftars, the meals that break each day’s fast, which she has cooked
for more than 100 friends, neighbors and colleagues in a nearby mosque.

Last night, the end of the second day of Ramadan, Mohammadi held an
iftar in her home for the first time.

After guests poured in, greeting each other with "Salaam," a greeting
of peace, the sun began to set and Mohammadi announced they would
break the fast with water, dates, nuts and other appetizers spread
on tables in her darkening back yard.

The word Ramadan comes from a verb that means "to pulverize," said
Kareem Adeeb, president of the American Institute for Islamic and
Arabic Studies.

During the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from food and
water from dawn to sunset, in the hope that their souls will be
cleansed and their sins pulverized. Observers also should abstain from
"earthly pleasures," including sex.

Adeeb said fasting is important, because it’s on an honor system.

"When you pray, people see you. When you feed the poor, people see
you," he said. "When you fast, it’s between you and God."

As he addressed the group at Mohammadi’s home, Adeeb, an architect
who works in Fairfield, said that a more spiritual fast for Ramadan
includes abstaining from doing and saying bad things.

"Some people fast and all they feel is hunger," he said. "The better
fast is the fasting of the tongue."

After the men had gathered for maghrib, the evening prayer, dinner was
served – an array of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes cooked
by Mohammadi; her mother, Azar Eshaghi; and other friends and family.

Many guests were not Muslim, and some were connected to Mohammadi
and Adeeb through an area interfaith group of Muslims, Christians
and Jews that was started after Sept. 11, 2001.

Hermon Telyan, 57, an Armenian Christian, said he learned as a child
growing up in Istanbul that understanding other religions was critical
to finding peace.

"There is a harmony because the three traditions are bound together,"
said Telyan, an architect who lives in Wilton. "During the month of
Ramadan, we would share the same pita bread as our Muslim neighbors."

Mohammadi invites so many to her iftars, in part, because she believes
it is important for Muslim-Americans to help foster this sense of
understanding, especially with U.S. involvement in Iraq and the
Middle East.

"We have to reach out to people," she said, "to let people know
that we are American and that we want to be part of the fabric of
this country."

–Boundary_(ID_zl4t9MK/piDlO2e70Bv JLg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress