[Peace] PRESS RELEASE FROM CIMIC- OCT 5- Ramadan Annoucement

[Irfan Ahmad]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

 
CENTRAL ILLINOIS MOSQUE AND ISLAMIC CENTER        106 South Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61801http://cimic.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

 
Muslim Fast of Ramadan begins October 5
 

Urbana, IL, 10/05/05 On Wednesday October 5, 2005 the Muslim community of East Central Illinois joined more than eight million Muslims in America and over a 1.4 billion worldwide to start the month-long fast of Ramadan (ram-a-dan). Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other sensual pleasures from the break of dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint, and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the “five pillars” of Islam.  As Ramadan is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days earlier each year.  The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal prayers called "Eid ul-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking on November 3-4, 2005.

 

The Qur’an, Islam's revealed text, states: "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint...Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an , as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting..." (Qur’an, 2:183-185).   

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions: "God has said: 'Fasting is like a shield. A person who fasts experiences two joys. He is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful when he meets his Lord.”

 

Muslims look forward to Ramadan as a period of spiritual reflection and renewal. It is also a time when people of other faiths can learn more about Islam and the American Muslim community.

 

“We have in recent years seen considerable interest among the general community in knowing more about Ramadan and participating in discussions and Iftar (breaking of the fast) dinners hosted by the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center” commented Dr. Mujahid Alfayadh, Imam and Mosque Director.   He further said that, “Muslims in general have always viewed Ramadan as a blessing, which helps them to reinvigorate their faith”.



“Ramadan helps me to reconnect to Allah and conduct introspection”, said Zayd Chad Leseman, doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

 

Commenting on the excitement and the spiritual energy in her Weekend Islamic School class, Fauzia Rahman, graduate student in the College of Education, UIUC said, “These kids have served as a reminder for me, when we broached the subject of Ramadan in the class, the students wanted to do something tangible for their neighbors and classmates at public schools, by inviting them to an Iftar dinner entirely hosted by 12-16 year olds”.  She further added that, “it is with the internalization of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that the students have realized Ramadan is about unconditional generosity and an opportunity to serve not just the Muslim community, but humanity as a whole.”  

 

“When I moved to the University of Illinois, Urbana after Hurricane Katrina from Tulane University in New Orleans; one of the things, which made my transition to the campus easy was the presence of a thriving Islamic Center, and now I look forward eagerly to having my first Ramadan here” said Umar Farooq, senior in Physics at the UIUC.

  
 Who Must Fast?

Fasting is required for those who are mentally and physically fit, past the age of puberty, in a settled situation (not traveling), and are sure fasting is unlikely to cause real physical or mental injury.

 

Special Events

v      Special prayers, called taraweeh, are performed after the daily night-time prayer.

v      Lailat ul-Qadr (“The Night of Power” or “The Night of Destiny”) marks the anniversary of the night on which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first began receiving revelations from God, through the archangel Gabriel. Muslims believe Lailat ul-Qadr is among the last ten nights of Ramadan.

 

Traditional Practices

q       Reading and studying the entire Qur’an  during the month of Ramadan 

q       Social visits are encouraged after performing the extra night prayers

q      Inviting the poor the needy, and friends and neighbors for the collective dinners every day

q       Breaking the daily fast with a drink of water and dates

q       Muslims are encouraged to give charity (zakaat or alms-giving) during the month of Ramadan

q       Before the last day of Ramadan, the special Ramadan charity (The zakaat of fasting) must be paid by every individual and distributed among the poor and the needy in the community

 

 About CIMIC 
The Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center (CIMIC) established in 1983 in Urbana, Illinois, is a community resource catering to the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the campus and east central Illinois communities. CIMIC serves as a place of worship for Muslims, and an educational and social forum for all residents of east central Illinois.  

 

To obtain more information or participate in any of the Ramadan activities at CIMIC call  217-344-1555 or send email to: cimic at prairienet.org or visit http://cimic.org/

P.S.  All events are open to public
***********

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

 

DR. MUJAHID ALFAYADH, Imam and Mosque Director 

imam at cimic.org   

Phone/Fax:  217-344-1555

 

Alternate Contact:

MS. FATEMAH HERMES, Weekend Islamic School Instructor

Fhermes2 at uiuc.edu
Phone: 217-344-7803
 

Issued by: CIMIC Information and Publication, and Outreach Committees, October 3, 2005.

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PDF file of the annoucement available online at: http://cimic.org



		
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