The month of Ramadan began on March 23. For Muslims, fasting is an important part of their reflection of faith.

For members of the Islamic community, fasting is one of the five pillars or core beliefs of Islam and an obligatory part of Ramadan from dawn to dusk.

“People would conclude their meals by 545 and then would not have anything to eat or drink including water and then will go on to 745 where they will break the fast and have dinner and other fruits,” said Tabassam Javed, community outreach and media liaison for the Islamic Center of Rochester.

For Muslims, fasting during Ramadan is strongly connected to prayer. In addition to the five daily prayers that Muslims are required to do every day, they also gather for additional communal prayers each night that involve reading long portions of the Quran. 

“So really if you look at it the focus is to sharpen your commitment to the faith and to enhance your level of spirituality and your worship level,” Javed said.

Once the sun sets, Muslims are able to break their fast with their regular cultural diet. The Islamic Center of Rochester represents 33 different cultures, giving everyone a chance to eat according to their own culture.

“So a person from Pakistan will go and cook a Pakistani meal, a person from India will do that, a person from Malaysia, Indonesia, Somalia, Uganda, you name it,” said Javed.

Though it is common practice to breakfast with a palm date before eating dinner.

“And the reason for that is that at the time of prophet Muhammad 1400 years ago, that was customary to open your fast with a date,” he said.

Exceptions to the fast include children under the age of 13, pregnant women, the elderly and the sick.

“It’s like if you're healthy for all of the things, then nobody’s is going to write you an excuse for that,” Javed laughed.

Javed says that for most Muslims, the practice of fasting during Ramadan involves mind over matter, but for those considering covering to Islam, it may be difficult to get used to

“I had a colleague of mine, Michael and he converted to Islam and everything,” Javed said. “And I told Michael, I said ‘why don’t you wait till Ramadan is over.’”