admin @ Sat, 2006-09-23 08:00
Mohammed AbuHannoud, civil rights director at the Council on American Islamic Relations in Phoenix, said, "I think if I was an American, I would see only the negative side of the story on TV with these stereotypes."
On Friday at sunset, members from the Imam Council and the Islamic community went to the South Mountain summit for the annual moon sighting ritual.
Although the group did not view the moon in Arizona, the members received word that others had seen it in the United States, AbuHannoud said. The Supreme Judiciary Council in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, announced that Ramadan begins today because a number of people viewed the crescent moon Friday evening, according to the Arab News.
"In Islam, the moon is something that is a sign of God, a sign of his creation," AbuHannoud said. "You want to be the first person to bring the good news . . . "
"It is a season of worship, a season of focus on studying our scripture, the Quran," said Ahmad Al-Shqeirat, an imam at the Islamic Community Center of Tempe. "It is a season of self-discipline, and a season of strengthening one's piety, righteousness, and consciousness toward the almighty God."
Fasting from sunrise to sunset helps Muslims appreciate the things they take for granted, Al-Shqeirat said."For a few hours, we feel a kind of hunger, and we feel for those who are less fortunate," he said. "Many times we forget to appreciate what the Almighty provides for us."
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