Muslims in Erie, around the world prepare for start of holy month of Ramadan

This Sunday's sundown, at 7:22 p.m., marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan for Erie's Muslims. This is no small matter to this population of approximately 3,000, according to Imam Adem Garić, leader of the Bosnian Islamic Cultural Center of Erie, 1001 W. 21st St.

Muslims follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. This month, those who observe will fast from food, water and sexual activity from sunup to sundown. In the evening after sundown, they will break their fast with a meal called iftar and by praying and spending time with family and fellow Muslims.

"(Fasting) helps us cultivate empathy, gratitude and mental focus on the prophet's teachings," said Murtada Alsaad, 19, general manager at Almadina's International Market, 2325 Parade St., and a student of biology at Penn State Behrend.

"By abstaining from food and water, our hunger and thirst, it helps us realize that our blessings are easy to take for granted," he said. "It reminds us what blessings we have. It encourages empathy toward those less fortunate, and we are very fortunate to live in a safe country with enough to eat."

Some Muslims are exempted from fasting due to health reasons, such as young children, the elderly and pregnant women, but anyone else who has reached puberty is required to follow the fasting regimen.

Busiest time of the year

Garić said Ramadan is the busiest month of the year at the center, which includes a mosque for worship, special services, classrooms, a daycare and other resources for Muslims living in Erie. Erie's Muslim population is growing due to wars and political situations in the Middle East, Alsaad said, and Erie's special status as a refugee welcome center, formerly known as the International Institute, which is now part of The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

There are 2 billion Muslims in the world, making Islam second to Christianity in number of members, and Ramadan is celebrated uniquely in every culture, but the basic tenets remain the same: iftar, the meal taken at sundown, starts with dates and moves on to many protein and nutrient-rich dishes, followed by special pastries (such as baklava) and others only made during the holiday, served with many varieties of very sweet teas. Muslims do not drink alcohol.

Alsaad said he finds Ramadan to be a very special time of year, especially since families gather for the iftar and praying and socializing.

Garić said the cultural center also offers iftar daily during Ramadan, and is busiest on the 17th and 27th days of the holy month. He said the 17th marks an ancient battle won by only 314 Muslims fighting against 3,000 adversaries. The 27th, which is known as "the night of destiny," marks when the Quran was first revealed to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel.

Everyone invited

"The first words of the Quran are to read it 'in the name of your God,'" Alsaad said.

"The special thing about that night, the 27th, is that it's when the Quran is first revealed," Adem Garić said. "Second, that night it is our belief that our destiny is decided for every human for next year.

"We spend that night in prayer and usually all the way after midnight in the mosque where readings and programs take place. There is a huge iftar and everyone, Muslim or not, are invited," he said.

"Most come on that night, young, old, everybody," Garić said about the 250 families who belong to the Bosnian Islamic Cultural Center.

Alsaad said there are several centers in Erie for Muslims that have mosques and clerics, as well as services and resources. Others include the Islamic Cultural Center, 2426 Parade St., and the Islamic Association of Erie, 2419 Holland St. They all offer culturally appropriate programs during the holy month, which this year ends April 9, and is marked by the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, when the faithful turn their re-awakened spirits to regular life.

A joyful time

Alsaad said the first night of Ramadan is good for praying because that night it is believed that "the gates of heaven are open, so there is a better chance that God will answer your prayers."

Alsaad also said decor is as important on Ramadan as Christmas trees in the Western world. He said decorations typically include lanterns, crescent moons, twinkling lights and incense, which helps draw the Muslims' attention to what they are praying to and for.

In the morning, before dawn during Ramadan, Muslims take another meal, called suhoor, a light meal of yogurt, rice, bulgur and beef, designed to sustain the body through the fasting hours but not cause cravings as a high-carbohydrate breakfast might do.

Alsaad laughs when asked if he loses weight during Ramadan. "Everyone says they plan to lose weight on Ramadan," he said with a laugh. "But it's not true. No one loses weight on Ramadan."

Because the Muslim calendar is lunar, and the moon cycles are shorter than the Western calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary by roughly 10 days every year, and Alsaad said that in six years, the first day of Ramadan will take place on Christmas Day. In 2023, he said, it started on Ash Wednesday. He said he likes when these kinds of holidays line up because part of Ramadan is celebrating unity not just with other Muslims, but also the communities around them.

"It's like Easter," he said of the end of Ramadan. "It's a special day, a fun day to skip school and work and it's important to be with your family. We try to do something fun, like in the summer, we'd go to Waldameer (Park) or take a picnic to Presque Isle (State Park).

"It's like a big reward at the end," he said, and despite the fasting, which he said you get used to after a few days, Ramadan is his favorite time of year. "It's a very joyful time," he said.

Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com. Or at 814-870-1885.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Muslims in Erie ready to start Ramadan, marking the Quran's revelation