The holy month of Ramadan was celebrated in the City of Newburgh where Muslims from the city and neighboring communities joined together in daily prayers, reflecting and breaking the fast together with locally prepared food.

Masjid Al-Ikhlas mosque at 25 Washington Terrace served as the place for daily prayers and meals.

The holy month began on March 1 and was observed over the course of several weeks. During the month of Ramadan is when it is said that the prophet Muhammad was revealed the Quran, the Islamic sacred text, still used today by practicing Muslims. During the month, Muslims partake in fasting, prayer and reflection with one another.

Members of the community like Fazad Ali enjoy the spirit of celebration during the holy month. He says what makes the Muslim community special in Newburgh is the diversity of its members. During his time, he has seen the community grow and remembers when the mosque, which operated as a former warehouse, was under construction and renovation. For those who may not know what the holy month involves, Ali explains Ramadan is the restoration of the belief in one God and lets the community focus on the one God. It is a time for reflection and for learning, which Ali says that when reading the Quran, he encounters a new interpretation to what is read.

While Ali does not have the opportunity to be at the mosque as often as he would like due to his work, he has enjoyed seeing familiar faces. He has even reconnected with former students of his who have grown up and furthering their lives. “It’s beautiful. I enjoy the camaraderie. It’s nice to see the community as a whole, to see us grow with new faces and just partake in this month of Ramadan with the actual prayers. It’s very exciting,” said Ali.

Over the course of the month, members of the community would break the fast with several small food items such as fruits and dates in the evening before returning back to pray in a dedicated space in the mosque known as a musalla facing Mecca. Men and women pray separately from each other within the mosque.

During the holy month, Muslims observe a fast, or sawm, from dawn to dusk each day from food, drinks or unkind thoughts or behaviors. Sawm is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The pillars are regarded as the foundational practices and beliefs of Islam. The other pillars are Zakat - almsgiving/the act of charity; Shahadah - the declaration of faith in one God, known as Allah; Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca, the most holy site in the Islamic faith and Salah - the daily observed prayers. Salah involves five periods of designated prayer time throughout the day.

Iftars are meals served at the mosque at the end of the day to break the daily fast. Members of the congregation like Maruf Rakib enjoyed locally prepared food and conversed with fellow members of the mosque. He shared that each Ramadan has been a different experience for him and he always tries to make the most of it and for him the celebration time is also very special to him personally as he recently became a father. “I’m grateful for the community that is here. I’m grateful for the community that is so welcoming,” said Rakib.

As a Muslim, Rakib shares that if there are those who wish to learn more about the religion or want to enjoy their time with their community, they are welcomed to come to the Masjid to learn. “We welcome anybody and everybody. Anybody that is willing to learn more about Islam, instead of looking online and reading about what’s been written by non-Muslims and people that do not know the religion so much, come to the Masjid, talk to an Imam, sit down with a brother.”

Similarly to Rakib, Ahmed Rehman, who serves on the board of the mosque encourages those from the city community to come and spend time with the Muslim community, even after Ramadan has concluded. “Ramadan is a time when everyone comes with an open arm, with a smile on their face,” said Rehman.

Rehman remembers a different Newburgh when he arrived as a teenager in January of 1992. The area has since now progressed for the better and the congregation over the past 20 years has grown with the people who have moved into the area. Members of the congregation have come from as far as Albania, Africa, Southeast Asia and Belize. Heading into the warmer months, the celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, celebrated March 30, marked the end of Ramadan. The next Muslim celebration coming up will be the Dhul Hijjah which begins on May 28.