Today’s photo of the day comes from Flikr user Sigree Ibn Mamak in Thailand.

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Today’s photo of the day comes from Flikr user Haider M. Nakkash from Iraq.

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This week, Talking Faith will feature four unique perspectives on Ramadan from students here in the U.S. Use the comment section below to tell us what Ramadan means to you.

Celebrating Ramadan at Smith College has always been difficult. My thoughts always drift back to celebrating with my family, such as heading to the beautiful masjid every weekend for iftar. Smith’s masjid is less dazzling: It’s a large, bare room. Still, it is a truly blessed place of salaam, and I try to go whenever I am not too tired from homework. The community there is small but diverse, and is one of the most sincere I have ever encountered. It’s not only Muslims, but the religious, the curious and the ambiguous all join each other for breakfast. Ironically, this diversity still reminds me of home.

When my Israeli mother celebrates Ramadan, she always incorporates her heritage into the holiday. For example, while my Pakistani stepfather is downstairs making pancakes, she will loudly sing Hebrew songs from her childhood to wake us up for suhoor. Although she has converted to Islam, she still keeps her Jewish customs alive.

Once, my mother’s father came to visit during Ramadan. He is a small, mischievous and comical man, a Palmach war veteran of Israel. Unlike my mother, he refused to celebrate Ramadan. He would begrudgingly come to the masjid with us, and even though he knew Arabic, he only spoke in Hebrew or English. While we were inside doing our night prayers, he would smoke outside with my stepgrandmother: a Southern Baptist African American who converted to Judaism. It certainly wasn’t the traditional picture of Ramadan.

But even though my grandfather did not celebrate with us, he did respect the holiday. I remember him giving my younger brother a clap for teasing me with food when I was fasting. Even though he wasn’t fasting with me, he honored my decision.

I’ll never forget the night during Ramadan that my puzzle of a family and I piled into our van to see the Christmas lights. We sang Jewish, Christmas and Dawud Wharnsby songs. (Watch the YouTube video “We’ve scanned the sky Dawud Wharnsby.”) My family of different cultures and religions were all celebrating together, enjoying each other’s company and acknowledging our diverse faiths. Although our coexistence was rough at times, it was built out of respect and real love.

My celebrations at Smith will never be able to match Ramadan at home, despite its best attempts. Iftar at Smith’s modest masjid are usually a sad but wholehearted attempt at what’s made at home. However, as my mother stresses, “Ramadan isn’t about iftar.” And she’s right. Ramadan for me is a time of peace and introspection, which ironically happens the most in congregation. It is when I celebrate with others that I feel closer to God. Community begets personal faith and personal faith begets the community thriving with full spectrum in God’s multi-faith world.

Today’s photo of the day comes from Flikr user Prakhar Amba from France.

Of his photo he writes: “I wonder what they discuss over hookah and warm buns in the cold crystal air of kashmir. The air laced with God’s bounty and human destructiveness alike.”

Send us your photos completing the phrase “Islam is…”

Take a look at Michelle’s coverage of Senator Ted Kennedy’s passing. As a powerful and influential Senator, Kennedy shaped many pieces of important legislation. Many religious freedom groups say they’ve also lost a fierce advocate for the separation of church and state.

“He deeply understood that only a high and firm wall of separation between church and state could protect our liberties,” said Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “He knew the reasons why our Founders established church-state separation and why we need to preserve it. He got how church-state separation protects the rights of both religious and non-religious people.”

In 1983, Kennedy, a Catholic and a liberal Senator, was invited to speak at Liberty University, a conservative school with fundamentalist Baptist roots. The beliefs of Kennedy and the Chancellor of the school, Jerry Faldwell, on issues ranging from school prayer to abortion, couldn’t be more different. (Check out this 1985 article about their unlikely friendship.)

In the speech titled “Faith, Truth and Tolerance in America,” Kennedy said:

“I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith. But I do not assume that my conception of patriotism or policy is invariably correct, or that my convictions about religion should command any greater respect than any other faith in this pluralistic society. I believe there surely is such a thing as truth, but who among us can claim a monopoly on it?”

Do you agree with Senator Kennedy’s thoughts on religious freedom?

Watch the You Tube video of Kennedy’s speech here.

Talking Faith will feature four unique perspectives on Ramadan from students here in the U.S. Use the comment section below to tell us what Ramadan means to you.

Across cultures and peoples, the principles of Ramadan are the same: self control and the cleansing of the body and mind. However, my celebration of Ramadan varies, depending upon where I am and the existing culture there.

When I was living in Egypt, I noticed the culture is heavily influenced by Islamic lifestyle. Every sunrise I heard the adhan (call to prayer) which is delivered over a loudspeaker in every mosque. The adhan marks the beginning of the fast. In addition, we Muslims are required to observe rules of the public domain. The obligations are twofold: The society must be managed in accordance with the consent of the Muslim constituency as well as God’s commandments. The Holy Quran states: “You who believe? Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, so perchance you may attain God-consciousness.” (2:183)

In Islam, religion and spirituality are not limited to the private life. The principles that govern the private lives of Muslims are often exhibited publicly through social obligations and rights. While celebrating Ramadan in Egypt, I saw the structure of the day shift in accordance with Ramadan. The work day and school day is shortened. Some businesses (mostly restaurants and cafes) open early for suhoor (a meal eaten before the sunrise). In Egypt, the majority of people are fasting: The struggle is group oriented.

During Ramadan, we Muslims are obliged to give charity, repent sins, make a strong effort to commit good deeds, read Quran, pray, and offer iftar (breaking of the fast) to those who fasted. When I lived in Egypt, these public acts of religiosity surrounded me.

Celebrating Ramadan in the United States has been a very different experience. I have a whole other set of challenges in the month-long celebration. It seems the public is not that aware of Ramadan. The work schedule is not adjusted to fit my family’s needs, and since Islam is not the status quo, only a minority of the population is participating in Ramadan.

I think the culture of Ramadan in America is created by Muslims who are most honestly and sincerely interested in completing religious obligations and enhancing spirituality. Unlike Egypt, where the ceremonies happen all around me, in America my family and I have to put forth a strong effort in preparing the celebrations. Ramadan is more of a private matter in America: Our iftar takes place at home and mosques, and there is no adhan that marks the beginning of the fast. But it’s still Ramadan, and although the celebrations may be different, we still follow the two principles.

The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State or any other agency in the federal government.

Today’s photo of the day comes from Flikr user Noushad Akambadam.