Posted on Mar 30, 2023
Fasting for Ramadan can feel isolating. This group brings Muslims in Kansas City together
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For many Kansas City Muslims, Ramadan represents a time to reflect on the things they are thankful for through prayer and fasting. It also brings communal fast-breaking banquets and prayer sessions. Community members are able to reconnect and reinforce one another’s faith, especially where many around them do not share it.
On March 23, members of Kansas City’s Muslim community gathered at the Islamic Center of Johnson County to celebrate the first day of Ramadan.
Ramadan is considered the most holy month in the Islamic calendar.
“It’s probably one of our busiest times of the year,” says ICJC board member Shahzad Zafar. “If you're thinking of an annual cycle, for us it centers around Ramadan. It's like we end Ramadan and then we kind of start a cycle building up to the next one.”
On March 23, members of Kansas City’s Muslim community gathered at the Islamic Center of Johnson County to celebrate the first day of Ramadan.
Ramadan is considered the most holy month in the Islamic calendar.
“It’s probably one of our busiest times of the year,” says ICJC board member Shahzad Zafar. “If you're thinking of an annual cycle, for us it centers around Ramadan. It's like we end Ramadan and then we kind of start a cycle building up to the next one.”
Fasting for Ramadan can feel isolating. This group brings Muslims in Kansas City together
Posted from kcur.org
Religion
Islam
Holidays
Kansas City
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."She’s one of the few Muslim students who attend her elementary school in the Blue Valley School District. She admits that’s sometimes difficult.
“No matter where you are, there's someone eating,” she says. “Luckily, they're really considerate at my school.”
During lunch, Ayra and the other Muslim students sit in the school’s office and read, make crafts or just talk. Sometimes they even take naps.
When she’s away from school, she says the friends she’s made through the ICJC help the most.
“[If I’m struggling] I'll call my friends that are fasting,” she says. “We'll talk for a long time and we'll completely forget we're fasting.”
They’re also helping Ayra create a presentation that explains what Ramadan is and why Muslims fast. She hopes to give the presentation to some of her non-Muslim classmates at school before Ramadan ends.
Like Ayra and her friends, many of those within Kansas City’s Muslim community lean on one another during Ramadan.
“It's a month of giving and thinking about people who do not have enough,” says Zafar. “The real purpose of fasting is to think about the people you need to help.”...
..."She’s one of the few Muslim students who attend her elementary school in the Blue Valley School District. She admits that’s sometimes difficult.
“No matter where you are, there's someone eating,” she says. “Luckily, they're really considerate at my school.”
During lunch, Ayra and the other Muslim students sit in the school’s office and read, make crafts or just talk. Sometimes they even take naps.
When she’s away from school, she says the friends she’s made through the ICJC help the most.
“[If I’m struggling] I'll call my friends that are fasting,” she says. “We'll talk for a long time and we'll completely forget we're fasting.”
They’re also helping Ayra create a presentation that explains what Ramadan is and why Muslims fast. She hopes to give the presentation to some of her non-Muslim classmates at school before Ramadan ends.
Like Ayra and her friends, many of those within Kansas City’s Muslim community lean on one another during Ramadan.
“It's a month of giving and thinking about people who do not have enough,” says Zafar. “The real purpose of fasting is to think about the people you need to help.”...
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I was in Saudi for Desert Shield Desert Storm. Muslims would party all night and “ fast all day while sleeping. Our unit provided man power to keep the hospital functioning. The dining area had curtains so we didn’t offend the fasting Muslims.
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