From fasting to festivities: How Muslims in Calgary are celebrating Ramadan

As the sun set on Wednesday, turning day into night, a group of Muslims made their way to the Green Dome Mosque in Calgary's northeast, searching the skies for a sight of the moon.

A new moon marks the end of a month in the Islamic calendar — and the beginning of a new one.

That night, the group sighted a moon in the night sky, officially marking the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and holiest for people of that faith.

"It's really a moment of introspection, reflection, contemplation, it's a moment of purifying your heart," said Imam Fayaz Tilly.

"We live in a world where we all want change to happen, but truly, Ramadan is a month which obligates us to ensure that change starts with us."

It's believed that during Ramadan, the Qur'an, Islam's holy text and the guiding principle for Muslims, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed. Muslims fast for either 29 or 30 days — depending on the sighting of the moon at the end of the month.

At fajr, meaning dawn in Arabic, Muslims begin their fast for the day, refraining from eating, drinking and smoking. At maghrib, which means sunset, the fourth call to prayer of the day is heard — marking the end of the day when they can break their fast.

"It's challenging, however, we believe that God does give us spiritual strength, and it's mind over matter," Tilly said.

"Fasting is not about losing the weight or the calories, but rather it's about losing and kicking those bad habits those traits which are considered blameworthy in our tradition."

As much as it is a time for faith and spiritual reflection, Ramadan is also a time where families and friends come together and celebrate.

Celebration and community

Throughout the month, mosques and community groups host community iftars (sunset meal.) Bazaars pop up across the city, typically selling traditional clothing, food and sweets.

Houses are decorated inside and out with lights and lanterns, families gather around the table at iftar, to eat when it's time to break their fast, and friends socialize after sundown at traditional cafes over tea, coffee and shisha.

That sense of togetherness is something Besan Jadalowen said she looks forward to every year. She's a high school student in Calgary and with a busy schedule that typically revolves around homework and studying, it's not often that she's able to get together with her family or friends.

That changes during Ramadan.

"It's a chance for me to connect with people I've never seen in a long time," she said. "We don't really get to see each other as a family. I feel like there's not that one set point in the day where we can just come together and have a meal on the table."

Jadalowen also takes opportunities to do more for those in need — from doing more volunteer work with food banks, to talking to more people about the meaning of the religion and helping teach younger children more about Ramadan and the Islamic religion as a whole.

It's something she says the whole community strives for throughout the month.

A time of charity and giving

While Ramadan is always marked by — and stands out — because of fasting, it's also a time of helping those who are in need and less fortunate.

This year, that's especially relevant, said Imam Syed Soharwardy with the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada.

"It's a hard time for many families because of the inflation and high prices," Soharwardy said. "We want to reach out to those in the community who are in need, who are suffering."

At the Green Dome Mosque in northeast Calgary, Soharwardy says the food bank is helping more than 300 families this month.

They're also hosting a community iftar where, depending on the day, between 100-400 people come to break their fast every day.

Soharwardy added that Muslims should also take the opportunity to reach out to people from outside the community and share food and come together.

"That the spirit of Ramadan is all about reaching out. We live in this blessed country. We are very proud Canadians and overwhelming majority of our neighbours, colleagues, classmates, they are non-Muslims," Soharwardy said.

"I think it is our duty as Muslims to reach out to them and say in who we are, why we are fasting and then share meal with them."