(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 5/2/2019) – On Monday, May 6, the Muslim community in Oklahoma and around the world will begin the month long fast of Ramadan (RAHM-a-daan). This holy month will be welcomed with community service projects and outreach to help those of other faiths better know the Oklahoma Muslim community.
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other sensual pleasures from before dawn until sunset. The fast is performed to increase spirituality, discipline, self-restraint, and generosity while obeying God’s commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the “five pillars” of Islam.
SEE: CAIR-OK Employer’s Guide Islamic Religious Practices
https://www.cairoklahoma.com/resource/an-empoyers-guide-to-islamic-religious-practices/
During the month of Ramadan, CAIR Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, the Dialogue Institute, and the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City (ISGOC) invite their fellow Oklahomans to know more about Islam, Muslims, and the holy month of Ramadan with their third annual “Revealing Ramadan.” The evening’s program will include a tour of ISGOC and a panel of Muslim professionals sharing their experiences of Ramadan. Dinner will also be catered from local restaurants.
SEE: Revealing Ramadan – A Look In on the Muslim Month of Fasting
https://www.cairoklahoma.com/event/revealing-ramadan-2019/
“We are proud to co-sponsor the Revealing Ramadan event, which welcomes people of ALL faiths to come together as one community and learn about the Holy month of Ramadan for our Muslim brothers and sisters,” said Oklahoma Conference of Churches Executive Director Rev. Shannon Fleck. “We know that the more we learn about one another, the less fear and stigma can grow in our community, so we invite people of all faiths to join us as we gather together.”
Also during this month, Oklahoma Muslims will participate in the 9th Annual Ramadan Day of Service at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, packaging food for fellow Oklahomans in need while they observe their religious fast. More than 1,200 Oklahoma Muslims have participated in this annual event over the last nine years.
“Ramadan is about more than improving our relationship with God and increased worship,” said CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani. “During our holy month of fasting it is imperative that we reach out to our neighbors and give back to our community in any way possible.”
SEE: 2019 Ramadan Day of Service
https://www.facebook.com/events/2312651315680003/
The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal prayers called “Eid ul-Fitr,” or Feast of the Fast-Breaking, on June 4.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.