DAYLIGHT has taken on a different meaning for Swan Hill mum Tahera Jafari and her family.
Adherants to Shia Islam, they are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan — a time of reflection, prayer and renewal of faith.
It is one of the most important times of the year for Muslim people across the world and coincides with the ninth month of the lunar calendar.
This year, Ramadan began on June 18 — the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
For Tahera and her oldest children, it means rising before the sun to pray and eat breakfast (suhoor), before the time of fasting begins.
Between dawn and dusk, people undertaking Ramadan do not eat or drink in an effort to better understand the conditions faced by people living in poverty.
“It is carried out by all Muslims alike throughout the world, and is thought to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the last prophet Muhammad,” Mallee Family Care’s Abida Elahi, who is also undertaking Ramadan, said.
“There are many fundamental purposes for this month’s existence.
“To begin with, it instils a level of compassion and empathy towards the poor and misfortunate, as fasting helps us comes to the terms with circumstances that they face every day and therefore better understand their position.
To read the rest of this story, pick up a copy of today’s Guardian (Friday July 3).
