April 24, 2020: AIFD wishes all a happy Ramadan Kareem

To all our Muslim friends and supporters:

Tomorrow, Friday, April 24, 2020, Muslims around the world will begin our observance of the holy month of Ramadan. During this month, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, all who are physically and mentally able to do so will abstain from all food and drink from dawn until sunset.

This fast is not one of sorrow, but of thankfulness: the month of Ramadan reminds us to give thanks for our blessings, while keeping the suffering in our prayers and doing what we can to help them.

Each Ramadan, we at AIFD are keenly aware of the sanctity and safety of this great nation which we call home, and which gives us the comfort and freedom to sincerely engage in the humble spiritual renewal that is Ramadan.

This Ramadan, just as we do every year, we also will reaffirm our commitment to advocate for all those less fortunate, those ill, and those fighting to keep us healthy, prosperous, free, and secure. As our nation and all of our front-line healthcare providers confront the threats to our health of COVID19, on this Ramadan like so many other faiths, we will stay physically distant but spiritually connected as we find solace and renewal in our daily fast and worship practice of this holy month of Ramadan. We will pray for them all.

We also won’t forget those persecuted on the basis of their faith, their free choices and those suffering from gender and honor-based violence. We remain eternally committed to ending the suffering of those persecuted in Syria, and in other places where the diseases of fascism or of Islamist theocracy keep innocents oppressed. We remain keenly aware and dedicated this year to the sadly ever increasing demand to confront the root causes of radical Islamism and its jihad. We will continue to pray this month to strengthen our resolve and empower our advocacy for freedom within all our communities.

We honor and hold sacred the fact that Ramadan symbolizes equality among Muslims and among all human beings.

For all those who fast out of free will and with sincere intention, we find common goodness and reward in it, and for all those who choose any way to commemorate this spiritual holy month of Ramadan, we share with you in this communality.

May all your prayers and wishes for atonement that you seek from God through your fast and worship be heard and fulfilled.

May we pray to end forever the attacks against people of faith at home and across the planet. May our prayers and fasting build a wall of protection around all sentient human beings across the planet.

We are blessed to take this opportunity to wish Muslims worldwide a blessed and safe Ramadan, and a spiritually fulfilling fast.

Blessing always,

From your team at the …

American Islamic Forum for Democracy