Ramadan begins for N.L. Muslim communities, marking a month of empathy and togetherness

Sunday markedthe beginningof the month of Ramadan not just for Muslims around the world, butalso for thousands across Newfoundland and Labrador.

For Mostafa Hanout of Corner Brook,the monthis all about empathy.

"The main thing about fasting during the month of Ramadan is it's a way to develop self-control. And also, it's a way to feel for the poor people who don't find means to secure their meals," said Hanout.

"We also are so keen to do charity during this month and try to help those who don't have means."

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer, charity and togetherness. It is one of the five pillars, or fundamental practices,of Islam.

Eid al-Fitrcelebrationsmarkthe end of the month, which falls onApr. 9 this year.

In Corner Brook, about 140 people willobserveRamadan, said Hanout,as the local Muslim community is growing.

"We have approximately 25 families, but there are also some students, who are single, who study at the Grenfell campus," Hanout said.

Despite its growth, thereis still no mosque in the area.

Hanout said fundraising efforts are ongoing and government officials have promisedfunding but he believes it might still take years before a place of worship will be built in the community.

As gatherings to break fast and prayers at the mosque are a major part of Ramadan, Hanout said thecommunity hasfound alternative spacesto come together.

"Once or twice a week, we try to gather in the space we have in the campus or in the space we have in the chapel room in the hospital," Hanout said.

"We try to break our fast together and also invite our non-Muslim friends to join us for this social eating."

Learning about Islam and its traditions, said Hanout, is how non-Muslims in the province can show support.

LISTEN | The CBC'sHeather Barrett learns about Ramadan celebrations across Newfoundland:

Weekend AM10:43Ramadan Mubarek!

Omer Mallhi of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Conception Bay South and Dr. Mostapha Hanaout of the Muslim community in Corner Brook tell us about their communities' plans for the upcoming month of Ramadan.

On the other side of the island, Omer Mallhi says the Muslim community is happy to share culture and food with anyone who is interested in educating themselves on the religion.

"Not only you will see the differences but you will also see the commonality with which we have," said Mallhi.

"We love Canada the same way. We try to be a better part of the society."

Mallhi is president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, the Muslim communitybased in Conception Bay South, which currently numbers 30 people.

"By the end of this month, we have a refugee family that's coming from Malaysia to join us and hopefully, they will have a new start and their second life in Canada," said Mallhi.

"Thankfully, Canada has been a very welcoming country for people who really, really need it."

Though the Muslim community in C.B.S. is much smaller than the one in Corner Brook, it doeshave a mosque to gather and pray.

"It's called Baitul Ehsaan, the House of Grace, and it has been functional for more than a year now," said Mallhi."We do regular prayers there and this Ramadan, it is going to again be the centre of our social activities."

He said Ramadan is the most important month in his religion.

"We do a spiritual exercise where we try to do more for our relationship with the Almighty," Mallhi said.

"We try to do more for our society in general. We try to be more charitable. We try to have more spiritual self-discipline. So this month we're going to try to be better Muslims and better human beings."

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