Do Moorish American Children observe the Fasting month of Ramadan?
Do Moorish American children observe the fasting month of Ramadan?
Older Children ages 12 to 16 We allow the parents to dictate the course of action for their children to participate in Ramadan.). When our children become responsible for their actions and able to make moral decisions, they are considered mature regarding meeting their religious obligations. Schools and other programs that support children may find that some children choose to fast, while others do not. It is advised to inform your children school of their religious observations and if needed ask the Temple to give an official letter indicating religious observation and customs of Moorish American Moslems. Also, parents can encourage Ramadan for their children while in school by substituting those Oreo-Cookies and sugary snack for fresh fruits, vegetables and bottle water.
Younger Children under 12 For even younger children, though, Ramadan is an event that involves all members of the community. Many Moorish American Moslems have adopted to Ramadan each year in the month of October in showing homage to our beloved Prophet Drew Ali and our religious customs. Family schedules and meal times are adjusted during the month Ramadan, and more time is spent in community gatherings, family visits, and giving a greater time to study and meditate. In many families, younger children enjoy participating in the fast and are encouraged to practice their fasting in a way that is appropriate for their age.
It is common for a younger child to fast for part of a day, for example, or for one day on the weekend. This way, they enjoy the "grown-up" feeling that they are participating in the special events of the family and community. It is unusual for young children to fast for more than a couple of hours (for example, until noon), but some older children may push themselves to try longer hours.
Other Activities Other ways to observe fasting are to refrain from desire full cooked meals and substitute with soups, salads, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Rather drinking sodas, fruit drinks try just drinking water. Also try to incorporate physical activities into the family like walking, bicycling, dancing aerobic or playing those Wii games. Take time away from the TV and social media; spend time reading and going over lessons. You can participate in Ramadan in other ways, aside from the daily fast. You can volunteer your time helping at a homeless shelter, feeding the hungry or participating in a Temple activities. As Moorish American Moslems we do not observe Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking) which is the end of Ramadan in Al-Islam. We celebrate gift giving every January 8th which is viewed as our Moorish Christmas in celebration of the birth of Prophet Drew Ali.
To understand more about Moorish American Ramadan we encourage our Members to ask question during Sunday school and read various articles posted on the membership website.
