The Times, London January 8 2000

FAITH

Strife in Islamic communities makes Ramadan doubly testing for Muslims, says Ahmed Versi
A British Muslim family celebrates the end of Ramadan
Sorrow clouds Ramadan joy

Today is meant to be a joyful time for Muslims. It is Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. But there is a shadow over British Muslims' rejoicing this year, as there has been in so many recent years. They will be remembering their Chechen brothers and sisters who are being indiscriminately bombarded by the Russians.

Muslims have not been able to celebrate Eid or contemplate peace during Ramadan for almost a decade in many parts of the world. Last Ramadan also began with a bang as bombs rained down on Iraq. Muslims throughout the world were outraged that Britain and the USA could initiate hostilities during a holy month: a month of love, mercy and forgiveness. This year, our thoughts will not only be with Chechen Muslims but also for the privations of those living in refugee camps in Kosovo, Iraq, south Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza and Chechnya. Many of these war-weary civilians have fasted in the most difficult circumstances and will have little to celebrate during Eid. Kosovars and Chechens, in particular, will spend the rest of the winter shivering in their refugee camps or in the ruins of their burnt-out houses with inadequate food and heating.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims remember those less fortunate than themselves. The blessed month inculcates a sense of belonging to one community (ummah), as Muslims throughout the world fast and share the pangs of hunger and thirst. Fasting instils a sense of togetherness with people of different colours, races, culture and nationalities. All barriers are broken as they are in the haj - the pilgrimage to Mecca. During Ramadan, prayers are recited for the oppressed:
"O Allah, assuage the hunger of the hungry one, relieve the sufferings of all those in distress."
Fasting (sawm) during Ramadan is one of the "pillars" of Islam. It is the only month mentioned by name in the Koran. Fasting is obligatory for Muslims except the ill, travellers and women who are pregnant or suckling - as "God desires ease for you and He desires not for you hardship" (Koran, 2:18). During their fast Muslims abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and sex from dawn to sunset every day of Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad said: "The month of Ramadan is the month of God in which the doors of Heaven are open, which is full of His mercy, blessings and forgiveness. It is the best of months, its days are the best of days, its hours the best of hours; the month in which one's breath counts as an act of worship, even sleep becomes a gesture of worship and most importantly our prayers are answered and sins are forgiven."

If Ramadan is a blessed month, one of its nights, Laylat al-Qadr, is considered "better than a thousand months" (Koran 97:3). No one knows on which of the Ramadan nights Laylat al-Qadr falls. Some say it is one of the last ten nights of the month, others say it is one of the odd nights. Many Muslims therefore consider the last ten nights of Ramadan the holiest and some pray all night. Some perform i'tiqaf; that is, they seclude themselves in mosques and devote themselves to prayer and supplication. Imam Zayn al-Abidin, great-grandson of the Prophet, said of Ramadan in a supplication: "O Lord, give us grace in this month to show favour to our relations and do good to them, to take care of our neighbours with kindness and benevolence, to purge our property of obligations, to purify it by giving legal alms . . . to be just to him who was unjust to us and make peace with him who was hostile to us."

Muslims face many problems fasting and celebrating Eid in Britain. Last month, a school in Nottingham forced Muslim students who were fasting to sit in canteens at lunchtime during Ramadan. Such insensitivities are now thankfully rare and many schools contact Muslim organisations for information on how to help their Muslim students. For example, the Muslim Education Trust has been providing help to schools foryears. Its Ramadan Information and Advice for Schools fact sheets give information on Ramadan and Eid, suggesting co-operation between teachers, pupils and parents. Some companies do not give their employees time off to celebrate Eid. Most schools give pupils time off during the Eid celebrations but some still insist on holding module exams on Eid days, despite Department for Education and Employment guidelines that provisions should be made for students to sit examinations a day later as long as there is supervision in place. This problem is common in universities. Eid is observed at the end of Ramadan and at the beginning of a new month, Shawwal. The main rite is an early morning congregational prayer during which there is a bidding farewell to Ramadan. During Eid day Muslims visit families and friends, exchanging greetings and presents with joy and happiness. Special dishes are prepared. Muslims also give alms generously, particularly a special charity called zakah al-fitr. The money is normally given in advance to the poor so they, too, can share in the festivities. It is a day of spiritual fulfilment and humanitarian benevolence. We celebrate Eid having controlled our desires. It is also a day of peace and love and once again our thoughts are drawn to those less fortunate than us in being able to enjoy the end of Ramadan - the Muslims of Chechnya, Kosovo, Kashmir, Palestine and Srebrenica.

Ahmed Versi is the editor of The Muslim News