Many US Muslims keen on sharing benefits of Ramadan with others

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Thursday 18 Jun 2015 - 18:38 Makkah mean time-1-9-1436 (Image from OnIslam) Dallas, (IINA) - As Muslims worldwide welcomed the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, prayers and recitation of the Holy Qur'an, the religious minority in the US are divided on whether they should share these rites with their larger community or no. “I’m certainly going to post a Facebook status encouraging people to try out the fast and explain the health benefits and spiritual connections,” Farrah Bnadad, a US Muslim, told OnIslam.net. For Bnadad, Ramadan has always been about focusing on herself and her children and “sharing the love.” For her, sharing Ramadan would be in support of a worldwide day of solidarity along the lines of World Hijab Day, encouraging non-Muslims to participate in one day of fasting to experience it for themselves. From her side, Leslie Khan said her family’s special circumstances give them a unique opportunity to educate others about Ramadan and even bring them in on their celebration. Her husband is an Arabic and French teacher at a boarding school in Pennsylvania. She said his profession naturally lends itself to a discussion of Islam with non-Muslims. “We recently shared (Arabic pastries) with our neighbors,” Khan said. “We put them in little white boxes with Arabic calligraphy scribed onto the side which said “Ramadan blessings.” Using Ramadan as time to show Islam and Muslims into a good light for those who know nothing of the religion and its followers is important, Khan said. “Islamophobia is so prevalent today so we have to set a positive example with non-Muslims to counteract future discrimination and to promote tolerance organically,” she continued. “Education and exposure to our religion and cultures opens eyes to the (falsity) of Fox News (and others like it) in the world. It makes people question stereotypes and gives them a strong foundation on which to stand against bigotry.” SM/IINA