Ramadan: This year, I won’t fast with just myself in mind Published Sept. 14, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Tyrona Pearsall 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- As another year passes, I prepare myself and welcome with an open heart the holiest month known to Muslims. The month the Qur'an was revealed. I welcome Ramadan. Ramadan is a noble guest. It is a month for devotion to God and self control. To a fellow friend who is not of the Islamic faith, it may seem as though Ramadan is just a time of abstaining from food and water. But to the contrary, this 30-day voyage is an internal journey. One must be spiritually grounded or have a great desire to reach new spiritual heights. For Muslims, fasting is an opportunity to gain by giving up, to prosper by going with out and to grow stronger by enduring weakness. The hunger, thirst, and the restraint of other natural pleasures will in the end, please Allah (God). Islam consists of five Pillars: · The testament that there is no true God except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; · Salat (prayer); · Zakat (charity); · Ramadan (fasting), and · Hajj (the holy pilgrimage to Mecca). Similar to the 10 Commandments, the attainment of the pillars will Inshallah (if God willing) pave the road to Jannah (Heaven) for Muslims. For me, every year I fast I seem to be striving for a new goal during Ramadan. Maybe I want to gain more patience, more self restraint from temptations, or I am just looking to become closer to God. This year, I won't fast with just myself in mind. I'll fast and ask God to help me gain more insight and understanding for my fellow man. Not just the one who sits across from me at work, but also for the man I have never met personally. Ramadan began the night of Sept. 12 and will last until the Oct. 11. During that time, be careful not to ask a person reserving Ramadan if they would like something to eat or drink, but instead you might want to ask how their fast is going. You never know, you might just learn something knew about Ramadan or the person you are talking too. If that can be accomplished, then my fast will not be in vain.