October 6, 2005

Local Muslims start month of fasting

Ramadan to be observed Oct. 4-Nov. 4

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

Muslims throughout Almaden Valley and the South Bay joined millions around the world in the month-long celebration of Ramadan, a feast marked by total abstinence from food, drink, alcohol, tobacco and sexual relations that began Wednesday at sunrise.

Tahir Anwar, the Imam or religious director of the Muslim mosque in downtown San Jose, stands next to the chair where he usually sits to read the Koran during Ramadan, the month of fasting. Photo by Sheila Sanchez

This year, the religious observance was celebrated at the South Bay Islamic Association’s headquarters in downtown San Jose—the oldest in the area—and also at the Evergreen Muslim Center on Ruby Avenue and the Blossom Valley Muslim Community Center on Santa Teresa Boulevard.

“It’s an obligation from God to fast. It’s required in our religion to observe Ramadan for one month. It was prescribed so that human beings can learn to be aware of themselves and their surroundings and be self-conscious. It’s an opportunity to feel what it’s like to be hungry and think of those in need,” said Tahir Anwar, the local Imam or religious director of the South Bay Islamic Association, dressed in a long light blue shirt called a “thaub” in Arabic with a cap on his head.

Monday evening the association’s center on North Third Street was busy with activity with Anwar and his two brothers—Elyas Anwar, the Imam of the mosque in Morgan Hill, and Abdurrahman Anwar, studying to become the Imam of the Evergreen Muslim Center—trying to decipher when Ramadan would begin based on the Islamic calendar. The celebration starts on the calendar’s ninth month when the new crescent moon is seen.
Five pillars

Islam—the second-largest religion in the world next to Christianity—is built on five pillars, which include faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification and the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for those who are able. Each pillar offers Muslims opportunities to build their relationship with their Creator.

For many, however, the most important pillar is fasting because it’s personal and deeply sincere. During the night, Muslims can drink and eat, making it easier to observe Ramadan for 30 days. The good accomplished during a day’s fast can be destroyed by a lie, slander, denouncing someone behind his or her back, a false oath and greed or covetousness.

According to Islam, the prophet Mohammed became a messenger of God at age 40 while engaged in a meditative retreat. He received his first revelation through the angel Gabriel. The revelations are all contained in the Koran.
“Ramadan helps to emphasize our faith. We give a lot of charity during this month such as feeding and helping the poor. People frequent the mosques more often as opposed to during the year,” Elyas Anwar said.

Reasons for fasting
AshRaf Madraswala, a member of the association’s board of directors, said he fasts during Ramadan because it’s mandatory. “It brings people together. We feel strong. Fasting gives us control over anger and we receive a soft heart. It brings our families together. All the problems that we have can be forgotten and we can pray and feel peace among us and in the community that we live,” Madraswala said, who’s originally from Pakistan but who has lived in San Jose for 25 years. “It’s not easy but it gives you a lot of power.”

Sharifa Khatri, a middle-aged woman from Bombay, India, who’s been attending the downtown mosque for more than 26 years, said she fasts during Ramadan to do good deeds, pray and read the Koran. “It’s good to do something for God,” she said. “We try to be nice to our neighbors. We try to be charitable. We try to control our anger.”

Daily iftars
The association is conducting a daily evening “iftar” or a small feast for singles at the downtown center during Ramadan. On Saturday evenings, the association will have a community “iftar” for families. It’s accepting sponsorships for the singles’ iftars and the community iftars. Muslims believe Allah rewards those who provide iftars for persons fasting.

To endure the long daily fast, Muslims consume slow-digesting foods such as grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour and unpolished rice.

Tahir Anwar and his brother, Abdurrahman Anwar, are leading daily prayers at the downtown center during the holy month. In addition to the five daily prayers required of all Muslims, the Imam will recite an additional set of evening prayers before breaking the fast. Anwar will read the Koran from memory every night until the entire Koran is recited from memory. Every evening, about 100 people come to the night prayer services.

At the end of the Ramadan, during the first day of the tenth month, Muslims will celebrate the Eid-ul-fitr, the largest breaking of the fast that attracts between 5,000 and 6,000 people from throughout the South Bay. The event is usually held at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds or at the San Jose Convention Center.

Imam Tahir Anwar
Tahir Anwar was born in London and grew up in east San Jose. His parents are from India. He’s been the Imam of the downtown mosque for six years. After undergoing formal religious training in India, he was elected the Imam of the mosque. The association financially compensates Anwar for working full time as its religious director. He’s married and has one child.

Tahir Anwar, the Imam or religious director of the Muslim mosque on North Third Street in downtown San Jose, began observing Ramadan on Oct. 4. Photo by Sheila Sanchez

Anwar said Almaden and Blossom valleys have the highest concentrations of Muslims in the South Bay. He said the community has been blessed with good jobs and a good education. Most work in senior management positions at local high tech companies.

“Our community is well spread out and those who come to this mosque are from all over the city,” Anwar said. “For many people this is home. This is their mosque. We get people from Almaden, Sunnyvale, Los Gatos and even Fremont who come regularly to our prayer services.”

Joining the fast
Last year, Almaden’s Rob Davis, chief of police for the San Jose Police Department, joined the local Muslim population in the fast. This year, Anwar said Davis and several other San Jose City Council members will probably fast, but will keep it private because of the personal and spiritual nature of the fast.

“Everyone who fasts does it for themselves. Some do it to show solidarity. At the end of the day it benefits them. For Muslims, it’s considered the highest reward act because when we’re fasting, no one knows we’re fasting unless we tell them,” Anwar said.

Christians, Jews and Muslims marked several significant religious observations recently such as Ramadan, Rosh Hashana, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and World Communion Sunday, and on Oct. 6 at the Circle of Palms in downtown there will be an interfaith event called “Fasting and Feasting Together.”

The event gives the three religious groups a chance to share their beliefs and celebrate their religious diversity. The groups pray and break their fasts together. The event is sponsored by the Cantor/Rabbinic Association of Greater San Jose, the Council of Churches of Santa Clara County, the Catholic Diocese of San Jose, the Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice and the South Bay Islamic Association.

For more information on the South Bay Islamic Association, 325. Third St., San Jose, Calif., 95112, visit www.sbia.info.