Behind tradition lies the value

Currently, we are more than halfway through Ramadan.. As a Muslim, I never want such a time to end, for there is no greater op­portunity during which one can grow closer to Allah and gain good deeds. This is done through more frequent prayer, Qur'an recitation, spending spiritual moments with loved ones and Muslims in the commu­nity, donating to the needy through zakah as a moral and spiritual investment (as well as a ma­jor pillar of Islam) and, of course, the essence of Ramadan: fasting. Noor Najjar, a student blogger on the myUT homepage and a very dear friend of mine posted on the first day of Ramadan a reminder about one of the core concepts of fasting: "The best way to understand a person is to step in their shoes. What better way to understand what the hungry or deprived endure except than to step in their shoes for 30 days?"Noor's post re-instilled this highly relevant and ever true notion. In turn, I would like to expand on it in light of recent global develop­ments. While the importance of fasting is first and foremost to exercise self-restraint and demonstrate discipline so that Muslims may become more righteous, there's also a second benefit.

Ramadan provides an opportunity to sym­pathize with those struggling elsewhere in the world.

This could not be a more appropriate time considering the current crises going on world­wide. For instance, East Africa is currently en­during a humanitarian crisis as a result of the worst drought in 60 years. Two failed rain sea­sons led to crop shortages on top of the horn of Africa's already vulnerable state. It is expected to affect more than 10 million people in coun­tries including Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ugan­da, and Djibouti.

According to reports by UNICEF, southern Somalia is suffering from lack of prop­er healthcare, insufficient food supply and lack of clean water. In addition, Somalia's political instability is worsening to a critical condition, and hundreds of refugees flee to camps in Ke­nya. The country struggles to accommodate the influx of refugees. The images online and on television depicting the famine are beyond dis­tressing.

Matters are expected to become worse with no rain forecast in sight. Spiking food pric­es are making it increasingly difficult for the main agencies to afford emergency aid, so your help is crucial. You can help UNICEF meet these needs by texting "FOOD" to 864233 to donate $10 from the United States or visit their website at www.unicefusa.org to donate online. You can also make a donation through numer­ous other agencies including Islamic Relief Worldwide by simply visiting their website at www.islamic-relief.com, which provides more information on their East Africa appeal.

Another life-threatening crisis overseas is Bashar Al-Assad's government crackdown on the Syrian people's protests for reform and civil rights. Al-Assad's continued use of imprison­ment, torture and outright killing of any who oppose him in Syria has made him one of the worst human rights offenders in the Middle East.

This Ramadan, I am not alone in remem­bering other struggling populations of the world. Every night at my local mosque, I join the prayer of my fellow Muslims in the Toledo community to make a special call (du'aa) on be­half of people in Somalia, Syria and elsewhere.

We pray for the relief of their struggles brought on by hunger, oppression or both. Even if you are not a Muslim observing Ramadan, it's important to be aware of the dismal circum­stances overseas as people fight and face threats of torture, death by their own armies or by mal­nutrition. The tumult in Africa and in the Mid­dle East often frames our own concerns as quite trivial, especially when we have basic necessi­ties and securities we should never overlook.

As a Muslim, I find acts through my faith as one of the most powerful reminders of such fundamental concepts. After such reflection, it is easy for me to discipline myself, to forget I have not had water since five o'clock in the morning. I can look forward to breaking my fast and sleeping comfortably at night once the sun sets, but I cannot speak on behalf of the millions of others globally who can not necessarily do so.