Giving Students an Opening Look at Diversity through Islam

The world wide Islamic festival of Ramadan was introduced and explained to a full classroom of Yuba College students on September 1st at 12:00 noon in room 724 as the first Crossing Borders, Building Bridges event took place. After an introduction by the head of the event Neelam Canto-Lugo, Benazir Bath, the speaker, gave a thorough presentation telling students about the meaning and practice of the Muslim month of Ramadan. Bath began by defining Islam as “submission to God” and stating the five pillars of Islam: 1.Declaration of faith 2. Five daily prayers 3. Charity (2.5% of annual income) 4.Pilgrimage to Mecca (the Muslim holy city) and 5.Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar. Bath then said that the month long fast, which forbids eating or drinking anything during the day as well as sexual intercourse, is not required by every Muslim including those who are sick, pregnant, and under the age of puberty. The reason for the specific month of Ramadan, said Bath, is that it is the month Muslims believe the Qua-ran (the Muslim holy book) was revealed. Bath spoke about the spirit of the fast placing great emphasis on how a person must not only control what they eat during the month but that every part of their body should do good and refrain from bad. An example she gave of this is that one should not use their tongue to backbite and gossip. Bath explained that Ramadan was a time to get close to God, and Muslims pray frequently during the festival. The festival ends on the Eid-Ul Fitr (the last night of the month) and the people celebrate by breaking their fast and spending time with their families. Bath also showed slides and a video to provide the audience with a visual aid, and took on the audiences questions.