Blessed Ramadan signs dot the neighborhood and beyond

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN

You may have seen the signs in the neighborhood: “To our Muslim Neighbors: Blessed Ramadan.” The Minnesota Council of Churches initially printed 1,000 lawn signs with this greeting in support of Twin Cities Muslims. The signs, inspired by Council of Churches CEO Peg Chemberlin and Congressman Keith Ellison, have hardly been able to keep up with demand. Two more print runs have since been ordered with shipments going well beyond the Twin Cities to Ely and Rochester, Minnesota, and both coasts.

The Blessed Ramadan campaign is part of a Council of Churches program called Taking Heart.

Photo right: Longfellow resident Emma Dinger outside her family’s home. A recent graduate of Seward Montessori, Emma feels fortunate to live in an area with a diversity of racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

According to Jared Morey, director of programs and communications, “Taking Heart has been engaging Council of Churches members and congregations with the Muslim community for 25+ years. This year, because of growing anti-Muslim sentiment, greater awareness of Muslims as part of American culture and increased media attention, participation in the program around Ramadan has soared.” He added, “The name ‘Taking Heart’ implies an openness of heart, an emboldening and a willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone.”

In partnership with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, the Council of Churches also sponsored a series of “iftars” throughout the month of Ramadan. This year, Ramadan started on June 6 and will continue through July 5. An iftar is the breaking of the daily fast at sundown. More than twenty mosques across the Twin Cities metro area welcomed non-Muslims to come and learn about Ramadan and share a homemade meal together.

Each gathering offered attendees a chance to ask questions, build relationships and enjoy one other’s company. Last year, according to Morey, “participation was somewhere around 700 non-Muslims who joined in iftar celebrations.” This year, the number is expected to be considerably higher.

On the Muslim calendar, the month of Ramadan marks the most special time of the year. It celebrates the descent of the Word of God, the Koran, from heaven to earth. To partake in the blessings of Ramadan, all adults who are physically able observe the daily fast from before sun-up until sun-down. Children from puberty onward are also expected to participate. All food and liquid (including water) are withheld during daylight hours for Ramadan. Those who can’t observe the daily fast because of old age, illness or other reasons may be exempted from fasting, but still receive the blessings of the holiday.

Over the past 150 years, Minnesota has welcomed immigrants from all over the world. Minnesota Historical Society records indicate a Muslim presence here since the 1880’s.

Minnesota Muslims are making an ever-growing impact on the state and the nation, with the presence of Keith Ellison as America’s first Muslim congressman, and the state being home to the largest Somali population in the country.

Dr. Hamdy El-Sawaf, the spiritual leader of the Masjid Al-Ihsaan Mosque, said, “We wait for 11 months to welcome Ramadan. During this time, we embrace self-discipline with joy. Those who observe Ramadan say ‘no’ to drugs, alcohol, and violence. The 30 days of Ramadan will change the spirit and behavior of anyone who observes it properly.”

According to the Islamic Center of Minnesota, there are 250,000 Muslims living in the state, 10 million in the US and 1.7 billion worldwide. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and will likely equal the size of Christianity by 2050. To learn more about this and other inter-faith initiatives helping to create more respectful and informed communities, visit the Minnesota Council of Churches website at www.mnchurches.org.