Muslim di Amerika tetap berpuasa

Although Islam is a minority religion in the United States, unlike in most parts of Indonesia, Ramadan atmosphere is not felt in this Uncle Sam's country.

Typical activities that color the holy month, such as ngabuburit, breaking the fast, tarawih, religious dialogue and remembrance, are generally found only in mosques and other centers of Islamic activities. However, it is wrong if you consider that because of the unexpectedness of Ramadan, most Muslims in America do not practice fasting.

The study of the Pew Research Center agency quoted from VOA Indonesia on Saturday (2/6/2018), shows eight out of 10 Muslim adults in the US fasting. In fact, according to the study of Muslims in the country, those who claim to fast more than those who claim to pray five times or go to the mosque.

The simple explanation is this: 80 percent of adult Muslim Americans surveyed in 2017 claim to be fasting. Only about 42 percent say they practice five times and only 43 percent go to the mosque regularly almost every week.

According to the results of the study, there were no significant differences by gender. The percentage of fasting women and men is almost as great. Their origins grew also did not show the tendency of fasting. The percentage of fasting Muslim adults, both born in America and those born overseas, are almost comparable.

Mohammed Kadeem, a resident of Colesville, Maryland, says fasting in America offers a different challenge than in most Muslim countries. The black man who claimed to have been to the Middle East said, in his workplace, no one fasts than himself.

His colleagues do the usual eating and drinking activities. Which is also a challenge, said Kadeem, time foaming in the United States is longer.

In the area of ​​Washington DC and surrounding areas, Imsak begins at around 4:15 am, while the Magrib bedug marks the breaking of fasting time after 20:00 pm.

However, Kadeem says fasting is a Muslim obligation in Ramadan. Fasting, he says, taught him to be compassionate toward those who are in need.

"Fasting encourages you to help others. We let ourselves suffer in order to feel the pain of others, "

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