Article November 24, 2003 Issue

A Christian and a Muslim talk about Ramadan

with contributions from Lyle Young, Kayed Khahlil

By Lyle Young

To millions of muslims, Ramadan is about sawm, or fasting, which in Islam teaches one self-control, devotion, patience, unselfishness—qualities that promote inner and social peace, not the violence associated with recent bombings in Iraq. For two views of Ramadan, the Sentinel turned to Lyle Young and Kayed Khahlil. Young is a Christian Science healer and teacher in Ottawa, Canada, and also serves as an officer of the Ontario Multifaith Council. Khahlil was raised in Lebanon's Shatila refugee camp and today serves on the board of directors of Neve ShalomlWahat al-Salam (Oasis of Peace), a village in Israel established by Jews and Palestinian Arabs of Israeli citizenship.

As a Christian, I think that it's important to respect and support others' spirituality. We truly are all spiritual. We all shine as children of the Divine. Perhaps a Christian knowing this fact can help make a Muslim's observance of Ramadan that much more harmonious.

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