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Muslims end rite of Ramadan By WENDY SIPOREN ASHLAND -- A month of fasting and praying ended Monday morning for a group of 45 local Muslims, who gathered at a mosque south of Ashland to eat dates and drink milk in the light of day. The festival of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It is one of the most holy days of the Islamic calendar, a day when families come together to pray and reflect on the importance of Ramadan throughout the year. Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and other "undesirable" habits during the days of the entire month of Ramadan, to remind themselves of the sacrifices of Mohammad and to thank Allah for Islam's holy text, the Koran. They teach that the Koran was revealed to the prophet Mohammad in a cave during the last 10 days of Ramadan -- hence the practice of fasting during the daylight hours. "Ideally throughout the year we would live like we do during Ramadan," said Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, a recent convert to Islam. "It's ... a fast from all undesirable habits, including swearing, anger and idleness." To mark the end of the month, Muslims come together as a community to eat and pray. "It is important to have your brothers and sisters together to keep you on a straight path," he said. Oregon Institute of Technology student Ahamd Fayraq traveled with his wife and son from Klamath Falls to attend the event. This was the first year his 8-year-old son participated in the fast of Ramadan. Fayraq recalled the challenge of fasting during the summer months, when daylight can stretch to 14 hours. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar and the month of fasting moves throughout the seasons. "The sacrifice is nothing compared to what Mohammad did," said Fayraq, who is from Kuwait. The local Muslim group calls itself Alharamain after two holy mosques in Mecca. The educational group plans to continue its ongoing outreach program, Arabian Nights. The events include a slide show and snacks and are aimed at promoting peace through understanding, said Seda. "Muslims have replaced the old communism. We have a new enemy to hate now," he said. "In order to hate an enemy, you have to make him inhuman. ... We don't have to agree on everything, but hopefully we can respect each other and each other's way of life." Reservations for Arabian Nights, which take place every Saturday, may be made by calling 482-1116. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA