Ramadan 2010

An interesting task for Ramadan ...

Writing a Ramadan message for the Christian Muslim Forum has always been an interesting task for me. As a Muslim, the challenge I face is that the Forum is for both Christians and Muslims and as such I cannot get away with the assumptions that I would make if writing for Muslims alone. Fasting is a spiritual exercise shared and appreciated by people of all faiths. Its benefits are numerated in both Muslim and Christian scripture and one understood as being of great importance on our spiritual journey.

"Oh people! A great month is coming to you. A blessed month. A month in which there is one night that is better than a thousand months. A month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any of the voluntary good deeds in this month shall receive the same reward as is there for performing an obligatory deed at any other time. And whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of Sabr (patience), and the reward for sabr is Heaven. It is the month of kindness and charity. It is a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without the latter's reward being diminished at all."

The above Hadith will be very familiar to most Muslims and one that I think conveys Ramadan well. For Muslims around the world, the month prior to Ramadan will be one possibly spent in anticipation of this blessed month. Ramadan is a time where there is an increase in worship and an increase in activity.

Fasting in the UK can be a vastly different experience to fasting in a predominantly Muslim country. It is one that brings its own unique character as we observe our fast in a country where Muslims are a minority. I can’t assume that everyone around me knows that I’m fasting and this often means having even more patience than I would in a Muslim country.

I often wonder that since Muslims have been fasting in the UK for such a long time, what, if any effect our fasting has on the people around us that might not share our faith. I worry that in my fervent desire to fulfill my obligation to fast; I ignore my obligation to my Christianneighbours. Ramadan doesn’t mean cutting my self off from my Christianneighboursand others around me, only being concerned with my own spiritual attainment. I’m sure it’s not a time where I say: ‘’Sorry, it’s Ramadan, can you call me at another time, I’m a little busy at the moment!’’

Rather, I think of it as a time when I should increase in my engagement with others and share the blessings of Ramadan, both with Muslim and non-Muslim. It is refreshing to know that my Christian neighbour is aware that it is Ramadan and wishes me well in it.

This also raises the question to how Christians engage with Muslims in Ramadan, what is Ramadan like for Christians?

Daniel Edge

Experiencing Ramadan in Turkey by Hussain Bapulah

Ramadan was a very intriguing experience whilst vacating in Turkey. Prior to departing the UK, I packed my Bible in my luggage because I planned to heighten my Christian knowledge whilst abroad. I felt like a smuggler as I knew that Turkey was a predominantly Muslim country. Read More...

Ramadan for Christians? by Julian Bond

Like Daniel, I often wonder about Ramadan in a UK context where Muslims are in a minority. How does a key distinctive of one tradition – a holy month or a holy season – work for those of a different tradition? Is it possible to be open and inclusive while still being distinctly different and while doing so are we still welcoming and hospitable? Read More...

Ramadan Mubarak!