Airmen observe Ramadan

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Muslims of Sheppard 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. 

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

Ramadan requires Muslims to give up certain things of value to humans from just before dawn to after sunset every day until the end of the holiday, which is Sept. 19 this year. 

"During Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink and a few other activities during the daylight. We're not even supposed to drink water at this time," said Abdullah Shamsid-Deen, a member of the Islamic community from the 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 dates for Ramadan differ each year because they're based on a lunar calendar system. 

"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. 

This holiday is significant for many reasons; one being that it teaches Muslims values that are difficult to learn otherwise. 

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

The benefits of Ramadan last long after the end date. 

"The Ramadan fast teaches us to be sensitive to those that are less fortunate, because by fasting we kind of get a taste of their lives. That's why we fast during the day time because if we did at night it wouldn't benefit you when you're sleeping," 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. In fact, one requirement of Ramadan at the end of it, is to that one has 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," he said. 

For more information about Ramadan or the Islamic community please contact the chaplain's office at 676-4370.