As of: March 26, 2024, 3:07 p.m
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At the evening Iftar there is a lot of food: Menduh Killik breaking his fast with his family.
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Tölz Muslims are currently celebrating the fasting month of Ramadan.
For them it's about the shared experience.
Ramadan makes you think, they say.
Bad Tölz – Don’t eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset – for 30 days.
What may be unusual for some is everyday life for Muslims in the district during the fasting month of Ramadan.
“Ramadan is as important to us Muslims as Christmas,” says Fatih Simsek, explaining the significance of the fasting month, one of the five pillars of Islam.
Fasting all day is easier in winter
For the Tölzer, however, it is not just the religious aspect that is relevant.
By going without food and drink during the day for a month, you can put yourself in the shoes of poor people for whom a daily meal or fresh drinking water cannot be taken for granted.
“I can be sure that I’ll be able to eat something again in the evening, but that’s not the case for many others,” says the Tölzer.
Ramadan encourages people to think about how we can better support those in need.
As a rule, people quickly got used to all-day fasting.
In winter it is much easier due to the shorter day length.
“Only the first two days are a bit difficult because the body still has to adjust to it,” says Simsek.
In general, fasting is not a must.
Certain groups of people such as pregnant women, children, sick or old people are exempt from the fasting requirement.
Breakfast is served before sunrise in the early hours of the morning
As in the past two years, Simsek once again organized a joint breaking of the fast in the Catholic parish home.
On Friday, Catholics and Muslims came together for a dinner called Iftar.
For Menduh Killik, chairman of the mosque association, Ramadan is also about community.
The whole family usually comes together to break the fast in the evening after sunset, and relatives or friends are also invited to the Iftar.
“The shared experience is very important,” says Killik.
The dishes, which are usually elaborately prepared and range from savory to sweet, are correspondingly plentiful.
Breakfast times during Ramadan also depend on the direction of the sun, adds Simsek.
Breakfast is eaten before sunrise in the early hours of the morning and then you go back to bed.
“You just can’t eat or drink too much, otherwise you’ll have trouble falling asleep again.”
As a rule, the entire Koran is read once during Ramadan
Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they fast as a Muslim, says Killik.
However, the majority celebrate Ramadan.
“Among the Muslims living in Tölz, it is estimated that it is 70 to 80 percent.” If the cycle gets weak from time to time, you can stop at any time and eat or drink something.
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But during the 30 days of Ramadan there is not only fasting.
During this time, the entire Koran is usually read once.
Muslims can either do this at home or listen to the imam in the mosque, explains the association's board.
Particularly trendy among younger Muslims: decorating a small Ramadan corner on the dresser at home.
For Killik, Ramadan is all about introspection and reflecting on what is important in life.
By doing without, you learn to “be grateful for what you have.”
Ramadan ends on April 9th this year.
(Franziska Selter)
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