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 Vali 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, Vali 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, Vali 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: 

Information Radio - MB6:30Reflecting on Ramadan: A Winnipeg Perspective

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, Muslims around the world prepare for 30 days of fasting, reflection, and community. Tasneem Valli, a member of Winnipeg’s Muslim community, shares what this time means to her and offers insight into the emotions and traditions surrounding the start of Ramadan.

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. 

"We're hoping to let people know how we operate .. and sort of give back to the community," he said. 

The food outreach, one of those programs, has been running at MIA for the past couple of years and drawing larger donations every year, said Ghulam.

"We are very happy," he said. "It's a month of being generous with the people. It's a month of taking care of people."

The president of the Brandon Islamic Centre said Muslims in Manitoba's second-largest city are also focusing on ways to give back during Ramadan.

"[We] do fasting for the reason that we can learn to value what we have and be grateful for all the blessings we have been given, and … to feel empathy for the people who have less than us," said Amir Farooq.

He expected more than 100 people to attend the centre on Friday evening for Taraweeh, special prayers performed during Ramadan which involve the recitation of parts of the Qur'an, he told Radio Noon host Marjorie Dowhos in a Thursday interview.

The Muslim community has grown in Brandon and its surrounding area in recent years, said Farooq, which he attributes to the outreach and supportive environment at the centre.

"People are coming from all over the place," he said. "We try our best to help the community and fulfil their religious and emotional needs here locally in Brandon, and for [the] whole Westman area."