Ramadan Starts February 17

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, with 1.8 billion people observing each year worldwide. Many of our co-workers, participants, & friends will make significant sacrafices over the next 29 days. Let's support them.

At the sun setting on February 17, Muslim members of our On Lok family began the holy month of Ramadan by faith, tradition, and culture.

Ramadan is an annual observance for Muslims worldwide that falls in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar Hijri calendar. During this holy month of fasting, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking from dawn until dusk. If you’re not Muslim but want to experience Ramadan, you can try abstaining from eating from dawn until dusk and breaking the fast with an evening meal called iftar.

Fasting is one of Islam's five pillars. The five pillars are important as they chart a way of life for followers and promote belongingness in the community.

The five pillars are:

1. Shahadah – (Faith) the first pillar

2. Salah – (Prayer) the second pillar

3. Zakat– (Charity) the third pillar

4. Sawm – (Fasting) the fourth pillar

5. Hajj – (Pilgrimage) the fifth pillar

To our Muslim siblings in our On Lok family, we wish you a blessed Ramadan! 

Ramadan Mubarak/Ramadan Kareem!

If you want to learn more, here's a link to a Ramadan Information Sheet.

From Your Friend, Colleague, and Chaplain,

The Rev. Joseph Delgado