From The Fresno Bee (California)
By Ron Orozco — The Fresno Bee
Valley Muslims are preparing for Ramadan, including getting their cameras ready.
For the second year in a row, the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno will hold a Ramadan photo competition as a creative way to show the Islamic faith.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, a 29-day period of fasting daily for Muslims from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan begins each year the day after the first sighting of the crescent moon by the naked eye. Moonsighting.com is projecting the first sighting will be Tuesday, which means Ramadan would start Wednesday.
The Islamic center, the Valley’s largest Muslim congregation, hosts events throughout Ramadan that bring Muslims together as well as unites them with non-Muslims in the community. The events emphasize the importance of depending upon God and giving to others.
All Ramadan activities end with the festival celebration of Eid al-Fitr. This year, Eid al-Fitr is scheduled for Aug. 8.
“This is our busiest time of the year,” says Seyed Ali Ghazvini, the Islamic center’s imam. “Members that you don’t see regularly during the year, you see them at Eid.”
