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Airmen observe Ramadan

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Muslims from Sheppard AFB will join more than one billion Muslims in the world Aug. 22 in welcoming Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar and requires many sacrifices. 

Ramadan challenges Muslims to give up certain things of value from just before dawn to after sunset every day until the end of the holiday.

"During Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink or do a few other activities during the daylight. We're not even supposed to drink water at this time," said Abdullah Shamsid-Deen, member of the Islamic community from Texas Veterans Commission. "These rules are put in place by the Qur'an, which is our holy book. We follow those rules in obedience to the command of God." 

The holiday is significant for many reasons such as teaching values that are difficult to learn otherwise. 

"Ramadan teaches self-restraint, discipline and endurance," Mr. Shamsid-Deen said. "By making those sacrifices for more than 30 days, your body has no choice but to build up self-control."

"The Ramadan fast teaches us to be sensitive to those who are less fortunate, because by fasting we kind of get a taste of their lives," Mr. Shamsid-Deen said. 

Ramadan also requires donations to charity. 

"We give a lot of charity during that time because we are able to identify more with the less fortunate," said Mr. Shamsid-Deen. "In fact, one requirement at the end of Ramadanit, is to give the equivalent of one meal, about $10, for each member in your family to charity. So for a family of five that would be $50."  

The dates for Ramadan differ each year because they're based on a lunar calendar system.  Sept. 19 will mark the end of this year's Ramadan. 

"The lunar calendar has 354 to 355 days rather than the regular 365 to 366 days. So Ramadan fluctuates, like the Christian holiday, Easter," Mr. Shamsid-Deen said. 

Sheppard chaplains currently accommodate 52 Muslims out of approximately 18,000 community members.

"While this number may seem small, Ramadan is still a major event in the Islamic community," said Maj. Richard Crozier, 82nd Training Wing protestant chaplain. "We're going to make sure the First Amendment right to practice their religion is upheld."

For more information about Ramadan or the Islamic community please contact your local chaplain's office.