Ramadan a time to give back, Manitoba Muslims say as holy month begins

A Winnipeg woman says while Muslims will be fasting for the next 30 days to mark Ramadan, the holy month isn't only about abstaining from eating and drinking — it's also about bonding with others through prayer and being mindful of those experiencing oppression or suffering. 

"As the years have gone by, it's become more spiritual, more about self-improvement and how I can help improve maybe a lot of the community around me," Tasneem Valli told host Marcy Markusa in a Friday interview with CBC's Information Radio.

Fasting is a sincere act of worship during Ramadan — the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar — and one of the five pillars, or fundamental practices, of Islam, Valli said.

During Ramadan, which began this year on Saturday, many Muslims observe a fast from dawn until dusk. The festival of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month and the fasting period.

Muslims, excluding young children and people who are sick, elderly or pregnant, get up before dawn to eat suhur, an early morning meal, followed by iftar, an evening meal to break the fast after sunset.

People typically eat iftar together as a way to bond with each other — a ritual that makes Ramadan "profoundly more meaningful" each year, Valli said. 

She said she usually breaks her daily fasts by eating dates, which are rich in fibre and provide an energy boost.

This year, she said she'll reflect on how food insecurity affects people in Manitoba and across the world, while looking for ways to show her support and also speaking out against social injustice. 

LISTEN | A Winnipeg Muslim reflects on what Ramadan means to her: 

Throughout the month of Ramadan, the Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA) is running a community outreach program, partnering with organizations to distribute prepared meals to people struggling to put food on the table, said Hakim Ghulam, chairperson of the organization's board. 

The fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan is an opportunity for people to better understand the hunger felt by those forgoing meals, including people experiencing homelessness, which Ghulam said becomes a motivator to help. 

"You just take it for granted, so a month like this is critical … it heightens our focus and makes sure that we're doing what we can to give back," said Samir Hassan, a member of the Manitoba Islamic Association.

He and dozens of others were grounded in prayers for the first iftar of Ramadan at the association's mosque in Winnipeg on Saturday, which was part of a community event also aimed at opening the doors for people from outside the Muslim community.

Abid Vali, an MIA member, said the idea is to draw the mystery away around the Muslim community by offering people from other religious and cultural backgrounds an opportunity to learn about Islam, including engagement in charitable work during Ramadan.