Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, ending fast of Ramadan

By Jacob Belgum
jbelgum@wctrib.com
WILLMAR - Muslims have been fasting during the day for the last month in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.
Area Muslims gathered Friday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, and ate freely for the first time in 30 days.
For those 30 days, Muslims could not eat, drink or “do anything evil” while the sun is up. When it falls, they make up for lost time, eating a pair of meals - one late at night, another early in the morning.
So, a Muslim’s energy droops as days progress not only due to a lack of nutrients, but also for a lack of rest. Abdilahi Omar, owner of Ainu-Shams Inc., a small general store in downtown Willmar, said that during this year’s Ramadan, he awoke at 4 a.m. every morning to get his nutrients for the day.
Omar said that Ramadan is about as fun as one would imagine 18 hours without food or water to be, but that it gets easier with repetition.
“I’ve been doing it a long time,” said Omar, who has observed Ramadan since he was 15 and is now middle-aged. “I know how to fast. … You feel testy and hungry, but it’s OK.”
The Muslim year is 11 days shorter than the 365-day Julian calendar. For that reason, Ramadan is celebrated 11 days sooner each passing year. So, the last few years and the next few years, it falls during summer, when days are longest. Omar said the long days increase the strain of the fast from sunrise to sundown.
“We’ve had a hard time, (with the) climate, heat - tough times,” Omar said. “We are very happy to celebrate.”
Muslims cope with the fast far better when it occurs during winter, like it did 10 to 20 years ago.
“It was very cold, time was very short,” Omar said. “But today, during the day is too long.”
For the next few summer years, Eid al-Fitr will continue to be a necessary, nutrient-filled celebration.