From the Editors July 15, 2013 Issue

Remembering Ramadan

The Editors

The month-long religious holiday of Ramadan, which began on July 9, is a time of self-purification through fasting from food and drink during the day, striving to think only holy thoughts, making peace with others, and doing charitable works. Some Muslims engage in religious study such as reading the entire Quran.

Purification, peace with one’s neighbor, and a greater understanding of one’s scriptures are desires worthy of respect and fruition. As with many spiritual endeavors, however, the mortal sense of things would—if it could—mislead the faithful into actions that oppose their spiritual goals. 

Sometimes the end of the holiday—August 7, this year—has been marred by violent actions against non-Muslims, usually by people whipped into a frenzy of hatred by radical clerics. One can’t help but think that in some ways those who would sow hatred in a religion of peace are similar to the scribes and Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked saying, “Woe unto you, ye blind guides” (Matthew 23:16).

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