"As we pass through this sacred month, let our hearts turn to those who are living in war zones, under oppression and suffering silently, every single day, in poverty and hunger," stated an article published Thursday by the Muslim American Society.
The organization called on Muslims to reflect deeply on Ramadan's meaning and to abstain from all eating and drinking during daylight hours to become closer to Allah and more attuned to the needs and suffering of other human beings.
Dr. Adel Eldin, a devout Muslim from Hernando County, said he hopes Ramadan ushers in a time of mutual understanding and respect among mankind. That, he says, will come through education.
"We now live in a global world," he said. "We're not just in North America. That has changed with the Internet. The world's become a small village, and everybody has to learn and be educated about others."
Eldin wants people to know the good that is done by Muslims.
"There are a lot of prayers going in Ramadan to have peace and prosperity for all mankind, for our fellow Americans, for this great nation of ours," he said. "There are beautiful things that people don't know about. If they know this, that will change the whole environment. It's the most magical time of the year for Muslims and for humanity all around the globe. All the doors of heaven are wide open."
Eldin explained some of the practices of Ramadan.
"When this month comes, the first 10 days is mercy, the second 10 days is forgiveness and the last 10 days is being set free - the ultimate freedom from hellfire," he said. "The month will have endless giving and charity. It is the month of self-discipline and control of desires. It is the month where you feel the hunger and the thirst that the poor people go through. It gets rid of the arrogance, which sometimes can be accompanied with money and titles. It gives you back focus on the Creator and doing good on this earth."
One of the ways charity is expressed throughout the month is through the distribution of food to the needy.
In 2001, when Thanksgiving and Ramadan were about the same time, Eldin, his wife, Ghada, and their family gave the United Way $3,000 to create 100 food baskets for the needy.
In the years since, other community leaders have gotten involved, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida has invited participation by all of its chapters.
This year, the program will be implemented throughout the United States.
"After 9/11, we, with God's help, decided to do something nice," Eldin explained. "It let people know the beauty of Islam - the kindness, the mercy, the generosity."
The sharing benefits the giver as well.
"Between fasting and the charity and doing good deeds, you hope by the end of the month that all those good deeds will be accepted and you'll be like the day you were born and all your sins will be erased," he said. "Then you celebrate with a feast because you did a good job and persevered being abstinent from food and drink and other pleasures like sex and gave all the energy and devotion to God."
This year, several American Muslim groups are encouraging followers to use the discipline acquired during the holiday to quit smoking. Eldin, who is a cardiologist, thinks that is one of the ways following the customs of Ramadan can be good for one's health.
"This is a chance for everyone to quit a bad habit, whether it's smoking, drinking or eating junk food," he said. "Anything along these lines benefits not just Muslims, but everybody.
"When God blesses something, even if it's little, if you have good intentions and sincerity with God, God will bless it and it will grow and will be replicated, and God will have endless mercy in it."
By Gail Hollenbeck
St. Petersburg Times