August 8, 2013 Several thousand Muslims gathered in the Arena Civica in Milan, from 8 in the morning to pray during Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. The rain did not deter the faithful and they said the traditional prayer of the day. Ramadan is a time of fasting and a time to support…
August 2, 2013 “As you all know, when the Cardinals elected me as the Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor of the Catholic Church, I chose the name of Francis, a very famous saint, deeply loved by God and every human being, to the point of being called the ‘universal brother.’” The Pope wrote in…
This is the story of two Washington Iftar dinners. First, the Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren invited Muslim leaders to a diplomatic Iftardinner last week and Imam Antepli of Duke University wondered aloud if the event was meaningful. And then the Obama administration invited Muslim leaders to the White House Iftar dinner and Omid Saifi, the…
A recent Pew Research Center survey of more than 38,000 Muslims around the world shows widespread observance of Ramadan. In the 39 countries and territories surveyed, a median of 93% say they fast during the holy month. Fasting is the second-most observed of the Five Pillars, behind only belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad (median of 97%)….
Duran Pintol who is the Imam of the Islamic Bosnian cultural community in the West German city Oberhausen, speaks about the challenges Muslims face when fasting in Ramadan. However people who have to work are free to postpone the fasting. The prayer in the night is given special attention, as Muslims rest and prepare for…
