01 ramadhan 1426

emin mosque and minaret, near turpan, xinjiang province, in chinese-occupied uyghurstan

some of you might be surprised to learn that i am moslem. there are probably varying reasons for why people would be surprised to learn this about me, not the least of which is that i don't look "moslem", whatever that means. however, it is those of you who know me fairly well that will be surprised to learn that i am a moslem since my unhidden disdain for organized religion of any sort is well-known.

i will get into all that at a later moment, but for now i want to announce to anyone and everyone that today, in northeast asia, thursday, october 6, 2005, by the Western calendar, is ramadhan 1, 1426. when the eighth month of the islamic calendar --which goes by lunar observance--ends, ramadhan officially begins the morning after the official sighting of the new moon, which in the case of me here in korea is today. in some parts of the world--including most countries on the arabian peninsula (oman will start a day later) and in some other asian countries--ramadhan started on tuesday. in other parts of the middle east, asia, europe, australia, and north america, ramadhan began yesterday, wednesday.

ramadhan is about a month-long period of cleansing the body and undergoing a semblance purification by fasting. every day during this period, from about 30 minutes before sunrise until just after sunset, moslems are expected not to eat or drink anything--and to abstain from sex. even though it is a small act of self-sacrifice, the intention of this fasting is to experience just a small amount of the suffering that so many people around the world endure because of poverty, hunger, famine, persecution, torture, imperialistic encroachment upon lands, culture, and ideology.

one is permitted to have sex and eat or drink anything at any time from sunset to about a half-hour before sunrise, and some people really party it up during these night hours, which is why there are quite a few people who gain demonstrable weight during this month of fasting.

i am not a great moslem follower, for varying degrees of reasons of my own choosing, some of which could be discussed in coming days and weeks, but i always take ramadhan as seriously as i can because it helps me, personally, to focus on what is important to me, to be more aware of what is going on around me, and to understand--if ever so slightly--some of the unjust and unfortunate plights of people the world over.

ramadhan kareem to everyone!