The importance of Ramadan
By Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
Muslims in North Texas and those throughout the world are experiencing the religious season known as Ramadan by refraining each day from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset. This year the practice began on June 18th and concludes on July 17th.
In addition to not eating and drinking during daylight hours, those who participate in Ramadan do not smoke, argue or engage in behavior that leads to acrimony or in activities that harm personal relationships.
During the four weeks of Ramadan, the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are urged to re-evaluate their lives. They are asked to repair broken relationships with friends or family members, and they are requested to remove negative thoughts from their minds.
People of the Muslim faith believe that the prophet Muhammad was spoken to by God during the Islamic month of Ramadan, which is the most significant period of the Muslim calendar.
Nearly four percent of the population of North Texas consists of people of the Muslim faith, according to census figures. Some of these individuals were born in this country while others have come from different parts of the world, including Asia, South America, Africa and Europe. They contribute significantly to the social and economic fabric of our society, and are important members of our community.
In August I will be privileged to convene the 9th Annual Youth Summit & Diversity Dialogue in Dallas.Young people of various races and faiths will come together to share and celebrate their similarities, and their differences. People of Muslim faith are among those helping to plan the summit.
Each day America becomes a more diverse nation. As people, there are many things that we can learn from one another. Certainly there are practices of Ramadan that all of us, no matter our faiths, can admire and share with others.
Ramadan is a time of self-renewal, sacrifice, generosity and kindness. These are not only Muslim values. They are American values. They make all of us better people, and better members of the global community.
To honor American Muslims who serve our country as proud members of our military services, federal and local elected officials, judges, teachers, nurses, law enforcement officials and many other professions, I recently introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives acknowledging the observance of Ramadan.
Ultimately, Ramadan is a time for peaceful reflection and altruism, traits that all of us should adopt in our personal lives.
