17/6/2015

[Ramadan Begins Thursday in the US] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

06/16/2015

Ramadan Begins Thursday in the US

People are praying at the Islamic Society of Orange County, California. The mosque is preparing for the
thousands of people expected to come on June 20, the first Saturday of Ramadan in the U.S. this year.
The day is a large celebration at this mosque. Here people are raising a tent for the party.
Ramadan lasts a lunar month. Muslims around the world fast during daylight hours and study the Islamic holy
book, the Quran.
Shayk Mustafa Umar is the director of education at another California mosque. He says Ramadan teaches selfdiscipline. It also helps Muslims remember to be thankful for all they have.
When you go without food and drink for an entire day, even for one day, you realize what you have given up, and
you realize what you actually have that you had taken for granted.
The fast ends at sunset. In Orange County, many Muslims gather at the Islamic Society to share a meal and
pray.
Duaa Alwan is president of the Islamic Society. She says members of other faiths join the celebration, too. The
people, she says, are as different as the food.
You have Pakistani food, you have Indian food, you have Middle Eastern, you have Italian food, you have
Mexican food, and it really reflects the diversity that our community shares.
After they eat, they pray. Mosque member Nawaz Ahmed says Ramadan is a time to think about how you can
live a better life. It is, he says, like starting a new year.
Shayk Mustafa Umar says that Ramadan is also a time to strengthen friendships and other relations with the
community. He says Muslims around the world celebrate in similar ways.
So it is kind of a mixture of worshiping God and also having fun and having a good time, and realizing and
appreciating the blessings that you have in this life.
Members of the mosque say they feel the excitement in the air, just like they do every year at the beginning of
Ramadan.
Im Kelly Jean Kelly.
Mik e OSullivan reported on this story from Los Angeles. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted it for Learning English. Anne
Ball was the editor.
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Words in This Story

lunar adj. of or relating to the moon
fast v. eat no food for a period of time
diversity n. having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization
excitement n. feeling of eager enthusiasm and interest

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[Ramadan Begins Thursday in the US] - [VOA - Voice of America English News]

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