LEWISTON — Today is Eid al-Fitr, one of the most joyful and significant religious days for Muslims.
The past 30 days of Ramadan have been a time of fasting.
“A lot of people come together in the morning to exchange greetings, ‘Eid Mubaruk,’ (translation: Happy Eid). They pray together,” said Abdikadir Negeye of Lewiston’s Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services.
Everyone wears their most beautiful clothes, he said.
After prayers, family members and friends come together for feasts.
Finally, they can eat during daylight.
During the month of Ramadan, no food and no drink — not even water — are allowed from 3:20 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., about 17 hours, Negeye said.
While going without food, Muslims are expected to be on their best behavior.
“You can’t lie about anything. You have to be respectful, no foul language,” he said. “You have to be kind, generous, ethical behavior.”
It’s difficult, he said. Around 6 p.m. every day of the month, “that’s when it gets so hard. You don’t want to talk too much. You’ve run out of energy. That’s when you keep watching the time.”
On the day before Eid, Saturday, people are very happy, Negeye said. “People get excited,” he said. “You still have to fast. But it’s almost over.”
While shopping and preparing for the big day, people greet each other with smiles and say: “Eid Mubarak,” which means Happy Eid.
There are several reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan.
It’s seen as a way to get closer to Allah, a time of inner reflection, of feeling the pain that so many in the world feel who don’t have enough to eat. Negeye understands that pain. He fled war-torn Somalia when he was young, then lived for years in refugee camps in Kenya where life was hard.
During Ramadan children under 15, pregnant women, the elderly or sick people are not expected to fast, Negeye said.
Going without food and water is difficult, Negeye said, but he also noted that Muslims like himself consider themselves lucky to be able to observe Ramadan.
In the Muslim religion the faithful believe that those who achieve the 30 days of fasting and do good deeds will receive extra blessings, a forgiveness of their sins, a greater chance that when they die they will go to heaven.
That’s why, he said, “people stay strong and put the pain aside.”
