What I know from fasting each year on the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur (sunset to sunset) is that it’s always easier to fast when others are fasting too. This year’s Ramadan, when our Muslim community fasts for a month (sunrise to sunset), coincides with July 4th. I decided to show my support by fasting with them for one of those days. It was so wonderful that I encourage all of us to try this practice as a way to celebrate our American INTERdependence.
How can we all join in creating such new traditions?
First, pick a day. Since the local Mosque was hosting our Interfaith Round Table’s monthly meeting during Ramadan this year, I chose the meeting day of June 21st. Nothing like an extra challenge of fasting on the longest day of the year!
Second, commit to that day. To make sure I didn’t change my mind, I told my Iranian Muslim friend, Nooshin, that I planned to fast. She was thrilled and invited me to iftar, the special sundown meal eaten with others to break the fast. If you don’t have a Muslim friend, attend an interfaith program in your community. Most cities have such organizations. Or, call the nearest mosque and ask when you can attend an iftar.
Third, follow through. Although I overslept on June 21st and missed eating at 4:30 am (the suhoor or pre-fast meal), I learned that not every Muslim eats suhoor. It helped that when our Interfaith group met at the mosque, no one brought their lunch — out of respect for the fasting community. To get a fuller experience, I also chose to pray at the mosque.
Having led my students to this same mosque for a Religion Tour (part of my educational program), I was familiar with the space, the separation of men and women during prayers, and the appropriate way to dress. But don’t worry — if you forget a headscarf, someone will loan you one — as they did for me!
While I had planned to pray alone, our Muslim hostess encouraged me to wait until everyone prayed together, saying it would be more meaningful. She was right. I copied their movements…standing when they stood, sitting when they sat, bowing when they bowed. I prayed silently in my own words. It lasted five minutes.
After prayers, Lamia, our hostess, gave each person in our group (fasting or not) a carry-out container with samples of traditional iftar foods. I couldn’t help but feel it should have been us providing a meal to them! (Note to Self: Make an Iftar meal for Muslims next Ramadan.)
That night, when I entered Nooshin’s kitchen for my first iftar, a feast awaited me. The abundance filled me with such love that I felt full and blessed even before taking a single bite! We enjoyed walnut-filled dates, exotic yogurt sauce, Nooshin’s famous hummus and pita, special French feta, two different aromatic rice dishes, roasted chicken, kofta lamb, salad with fresh mint and sumac, Iranian sweets, and more.
I learned about Ramadan and its various practices across different Muslim cultures. The image that stands out for me is that of communities laying blankets on sidewalks and covering them with dish after dish of food for the sundown meal — for all to come and eat, especially those who are hungry and needy. Thus, Ramadan cultivates compassion.
This July 4th, Americans — no matter what religion or country we come from — celebrate our independence. For me, this includes the joy of our supreme inner power as sovereign human beings. And I mean the power to be with, not over; to join, not separate; to stand, not fall. We have the power to make each other feel welcome and at home in our shared and distinct traditions. My Muslim friends certainly made me feel that way. And I believe I’ve done the same for them at the Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, and Passover gatherings I’ve hosted. By sharing our holidays with each other, we gain a new and richer kind of Independence — the joy of Interdependence.
When we experience each other’s holidays, we learn not only what they stand for and the spiritual traits they cultivate, but we develop a familiarity with our Bigger World.
St. Augustine of Hippo said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Let’s travel, together!
May the fireworks this July 4th light up our souls the way iftar lit up my heart.
Ramadan Mubarak! Happy 4th of July!
Check out resources available for interfaith programs and interspiritual experiences.