Ramadan Kareem from AIFD— Tuesday, April 13, 2021
To all our Muslim friends and supporters on the occasion of Ramadan
T
omorrow, 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 of both 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. The ability and physical capacity to fast is a reassurance of the blessing of health. Often the first signs of illness is a loss of appetite and thirst. We honor and hold sacred the fact that Ramadan symbolizes equality among Muslims and among all human beings.
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.
After what seemed to be the neverending stressors of the pandemic, we are thankful for the blessings of emerging from 2020 in health and pray for those who who suffered any losses.
This Ramadan, just as we do every year, we also will reaffirm our commitment to advocate for all those persecuted on the basis of their faith or their choice to reject religion; those suffering from gender and honor-based violence; and to take firm action to end these injustices. We remain eternally committed to ending the suffering of those who remain suffering in Syria, and in other places where the diseases of fascism or of theocracy keep innocents oppressed. We are especially keenly aware this year of our continued and 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.
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 form 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