Religious Observance Of American Food Essay

To American society food is simply another thing to keep them going throughout the day, giving them energy. Perhaps the convenient burger at a café, a well-prepared dinner at a nice restaurant, or a lovely homemade meal – they are all part of American’s daily lives with no traditions or religious based holidays to refrain from having these foods during anytime of the day. The Islamic culture is unique in various ways but stands out due to the religious observance of Ramadan by Muslims.

Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance of fasting, or going without food and drink, to memorialize the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. It is held during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Due to the Islamic calendar consisting of only three-hundred and fifty-four days, it is moved back eleven days every year. Since the calendar is moving back consistently every year, Ramadan can fall on any of the seasons, changing the interval of time for fasting throughout the day. Participating in this religious observance are healthy adult Muslims, both men and women, as part of their religious duty. The only exemptions from Ramadan are the ill, pregnant, and lactating women, menstruating

The difference between the way common religious Americans and Islamic Muslims observe and worship their cultures is surprising as it seems Muslims are more in-depth in religion than material, such as food. Such things as participating in Ramadan shows devotion and a unique way of worship by working throughout the day in very warm or cold conditions while waiting to eat or drink until the appropriate time as said in the first revelation in the Quran. In a common American religion, such as Christianity, it is said that fasting can be beneficial as well as profitable but it is not nearly as in-depth as it is in the Islamic