Local Muslims begin month of fasting today
The first day of fasting commenced today, the first day of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims fast for about 30 days, abstaining from food, water and carnal desires from the break of dawn until sunset.
However, during the night, Muslims may eat and drink. The month ends with a celebration call Eid-Ul-Fitr which will be celebrated on August 19 this year.
Head of the local Islamic organisation in the Virgin Islands, Imam Khaleel Cave, in his Friday address today July 20 to the Muslim community, he called for an awareness of the rights of Ramadan and for his congregation to adhere to the rules of fasting.
Moreover, he also called on them to use Ramadan as a source of spiritual cleansing and for them to better understand the plight of the less fortunate around the world and to be more generous to those persons.
Meanwhile, Shane Winter, a Muslim brother who recently embraced Islam, also joined in wishing the Muslim community a successful month of fasting.
Asked why he chose the Muslim way of life, Mr. Winter said in Islam there is no segregation based on race or nationality and everyone is seen as the same, worshipping one God. “That unity is what drove me to the religion.”
The Muslim community in the Virgin Islands is somewhere in the region of 200. The BVI Islamic Centre is located on the corner of Main and Chalwell streets opposite Mid Town Restaurant in Road Town, Tortola. For those interested in learning more about Islam or have any questions, they can call 1-284-494-7307.
As of 2009, over 1.6 billion or about 23% of the world population were Muslims. Of these, around 62% live in Asia-Pacific, 20% in the Middle East-North Africa, 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa, around 3% in Europe and 0.3% in the Americas.
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