According to the lunar calendar Ramadan will end tonight. Muslims either follow the lunar calendar or a moon sighting – both are correct. Tonight is the last day of Ramadan for the people who follow the calendar, and those who gauge the end of the month of fasting with a moon sighting may end their fast tonight or tomorrow night – depending on the appearance of the silvery crescent.
The next day is the Eid day, one of the two Eids Muslims celebrate with great festivity.
This day, Eid al-Fitr, literally means ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’, and comes after the month long Ramadan.
On the morning of Eid day, this year it is Saturday for those who follow the calendar, friends and family gather together to pray a congregational prayer. The rest of the day is spent expressing special greetings, having fun, feasts, charitable actions and festivities.
Iftar at SCU
In the lead up to this year’s Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim community in Northern Rivers including Southern Cross University students and staff, local families and the surrounding area from Byron Bay, Ballina, Casino, Kyogle, The Channon, Clunes, and as far as Maclean, Grafton, Woodenbong took part and cooked food for the Iftar, end of the day’s fast, last Friday at the SCU campus.
Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan to please Allah, become righteous and mindful of Allah and practice it throughout the year.
The Muslim devotees abstain from all drinking and eating in the daylight hours, ‘immoral acts’, anger and any vices, make an extra effort in prayer and charity, reciting the Qur’an in this holy month, and continue this in the remaining months of the calendar.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, the others are the belief that “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” five times everyday prayer (Salat), mandatory annual donation (Zakat) and pilgrimage (Hajj).
Individual duty to our neighbours
A representative of the Northern Rivers Muslim community told The Echo that Islam puts a deep emphasis on our individual duty to our neighbours, regardless of their religious or spiritual background. ‘Allah says in the Quran about neighbour – “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the neighbour farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are arrogant and boastful”.’ *(Surah An-Nisa, 4:36).
‘One of the aims of this program is to share our spirit of Ramadan with our neighbours in Lismore.’
Each fasting day in Ramadan involves having a light and healthy meal before dawn (Suhur) and breaking the fast after sunset (Iftar), with the announcement of Aadan (the call for prayer). In most cases, each meal is simple as it eases the worship and does not create pressure on body and soul. However, on this occasion, as it was an invitation, the members of the Muslim Community tried their best to bring their famous traditional foods.
About 100 people gathered for the special Iftar that included greetings, guests speeches, the Announcement of Adhan-the call for prayer, breaking fast, congregational prayer and dinner.
Every attendee was given a snack pack for breaking fast. Some guests visited the University’s Multifaith Center and watched the facilities and the amenities, activities of the different faith groups including the Muslims.
Northern Rivers Muslim community leader, Abdul Aziz, addressed the guests and thanked everyone for joining in for Iftar. ‘The idea behind Ramadan is to stop oneself from eating, drinking and everything which is prohibited and so that one can train himself, even after the Ramadan is finished, to stay away from prohibited stuff.’
Lismore City Mayor, Steve Krieg, greeted everyone including the Councillors who took part at the event as guests with the greeting of Ramadan – ‘Ramadan Mubarak’. ‘I rang one of my Muslim friends, Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib, the first Muslim Minister who had made history by taking oath on the Quran for the first time in NSW history, to learn the greeting.’
Former Pastoral Care Coordinator, Dr Robert Lingard, remembered the past events and said that the COVID-19 pandemic and recent floods have changed everything. He thanked the Muslim community for reconnecting everyone again.Rob Cumings, from the University’s Student Care and Support unit and former project coordinator at the University’s Equity and Diversity Office, said it was a very nice opportunity to reconcile.
With the sunset and the announcement of Adhan, the call for prayer, the fasting people broke their fast and and answered the call to prayer before the dinner was served – dishes included varieties of pilaf, biryani, soups, curries, Haleem (a savory stew or porridge made with meat, wheat, lentils and spices), Naan bread, Lebanese bread, noodles and a variety of salads, fruits and desserts!
It was a real celebratory feast – defiantly something to put on your lunar calendar for next year.
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