AN ISLAMIC GROUP staged a public lecture recently on the spiritual benefits of fasting during Ramadan.
The event, organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Associa-tion Ireland, took place on 30 July at Finnstown Country House Hotel in Lucan, Co Dublin.
The lecture was delivered by Imam Ibrahim Ahmad Noonan, who is the first Irish-born imam in Ireland, having converted to Islam 20 years ago.
Local politicians and members of Lucan Garda station were invited to the address.
“The main purpose in organising this lecture is to promote awareness on the subject of fasting which is the third pillar of Islam,” said Imran Ahmed Sheikh of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association before the event.
“All Muslims, including in Ireland, must fast in the holy month of Ramadan for 30 days... roughly from 1 August. We want to increase the general public’s knowledge on the philosophy of fasting, which is to promote righteousness and to increase in spiritual heights.”
Muslims around the world – who number around 1.5 billion people – fast in daylight hours during Ramadan, a time when they are expected to survey their adherence with overall Islamic teachings.
As well as undertaking the fast, Muslims are expected to make special efforts to make peace with relevant individuals, refrain from using bad language or gossip, and keep good moral habits during Ramadan.
The Ahmadiyya Muslims, who will be observing the fast alongside all Muslims in good health, are a unique but controversial section of adherents. They declare their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, as the last promised messiah, whereas mainstream Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad fulfilled this role – a difference which has caused unrest and even assassinations within some Muslim communities.
According to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Ireland, many of their kind here endured intolerable discrimination and persecution in their home countries.
