Celebration as fast ends

Ramadan, the holy Islamic month, is set to come to an end today and the anticipated feast is in the planning among the Rockingham Muslim community.

Rockingham’s Ar Rukun Mosque religious adviser, Sheikh Bahaadin Penjweny, said every year Ramadan had strengthened the community, bringing them closer together.

“We are growing around Rockingham and Ramadan sees new people coming to the Mosque who wouldn’t normally visit,” Sheikh Penjweny said.

According to Sheikh Penjweny, the month had gone well, but everything had a beginning and an end.

“The month had gone so fast and now as we’re coming to an end, it is a time to reflect,” he said.

Over the past 30 days, Muslims have fasted between dawn and dusk. After the fast is broken, families share in a feast together and every night they visit the Mosque for Taraweeh, the evening prayers and finish one chapter of the Koran.

Sheikh Penjweny said by day 30, those who had committed themselves to Ramadan had finished reading the Koran and made preparations for the end of the fast.

“Finishing the fast successfully gives you joy and those who cannot finish it for whatever reason regret it,” he said.

He said the Muslim community would be in full celebration and he likened it to Christmas.

“We take the family and go and buy new clothes for the children and gifts for one another and celebrate,” he said.

Sheikh Penjweny said for him and his family, Ramadan had been a wonderful, reflective month and a time to give thanks and praise.