Latifeh Sabbagh: "We need a spiritual detox ..."

FIRST, GREETINGS
TO ALL WHO ARE
CELEBRATING
THE EID AL-FITR!

    Today, millions of Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr, the huge celebration that ends the month-long fast of Ramadan. But, not everyone will celebrate today. Millions more will celebrate tomorrow. Some may even wait another day.
    Here’s why: Unlike hierarchical religious groups like the Catholic church in which worldwide leaders formally set religious observances — Islam emphasizes the responsibility of each Muslim to follow the faith’s traditions. Some Muslims do look to particular scholars or imams for advice on beginning and ending the fast. Some Muslim communities consult scientists on the lunar calendar. Others prefer to sight the moon themselves. This means that American Muslim communities, made up of Muslims from many different cultures, observe the Eid for at least a couple of days.
    Whether your fast ends today — or later this week — we want to wish you: “Eid Mubarak!”
    If you have Muslim friends, neighbors or co-workers, the holiday greeting is pronounced: “Eed Moo-BAR-ack!” Also, most online greeting-card sites now have free E-cards you can send. Just visit your favorite E-card site and search for “Eid Mubarak.”
    MEANWHILE, we’re going to continue to share with you some of the inspiring personal stories we’ve received …

Latifeh Sabbagh, a middle-school social worker and a clinical therapist, talks about what this month-long fast represents for millions of Muslims. In an important sense, it’s a “spiritual detox,” she says — but as you read her reflections you’ll find her echoing thoughts that many Christians voice as the Christmas season draws to a close. Here are Latifeh’s words …

    Every year we need a spiritual detox — a time to step back and welcome this new spirit of Ramadan.
    Not only is Ramadan a good detox for the body, but it’s also a cleansing for your spirit and soul. We move away from this materialistic world. We reflect on individuals who are less fortunate. We spend so much time with family, thinking about giving, thinking about God.
    As human beings, we need reminders like this of how life is supposed to be — of what our spirits really need. We start to take things for granted and we don’t appreciate what we are blessed with.
    Then, each year, we go through this experience of Ramadan where we’re around family so much, we’re thinking so much more about God, we’re with friends. If you come to our Islamic center here, you can hardly find a seat, because so many people are here. You can’t keep up with the invitations from friends and family to share meals — people you don’t see much throughout the rest of the year, but they’re all around you in Ramadan.
    You go to a pastry shop and you can wait for two hours because so many people are enjoying Ramadan and preparing meals.
    There’s so much love in the air, so much caring and giving. As we reach the end of Ramadan, people say: “Why can’t every day of the year be like Ramadan?”

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