First-time fasters: non-Muslim Calgarians observe a day of Ramadan

A group of 25 non-Muslims gathered over the weekend to observe a day of conversation, teaching and fasting in an effort to learn more about their neighbours.

A group of first-time fasters gathered in a Muslim household over the weekend to observe a day of Ramadan.

Twenty-five non-Muslims joined a community leader and his family to not only fast — but to learn more about the religion and the lessons it teaches.

“They fast, and then they come and share their experiences and break the fast with us in the evening,” host Khalil Karbani said.

“It’s just very joyful for me to share this experience with others and just show the beauty of where we live, Canada, and how inclusive everyone is.”

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The group experienced one day of what more than an estimated two billion Muslims practice for 30 days each year: no food or drink from dawn to sunset.

Before breaking the fast, they gathered in Karbani’s home to reflect on their challenges and feelings.

“I learned mostly about how Ramadan is about family, about cherishing what you have and being thankful for what you own and what you have,” participant Stefanie Padilla Guajardo said.

“I’m grateful for that.”

Being thankful is a big part of Ramadan.

Khalil explained to the group that fasting reminds those in the Muslim faith about how lucky they are to have food — and about how important charity is.

“It is such a thing that we take for granted, so it’s just nice to kind of be able to cherish that more,” Gurpreet Khurana said.

“(While I was fasting), I got angry and sad and happy, but mostly I was just thankful,” Padilla Guajardo added.

“When we started eating, I was (thinking about) how much people have to struggle to get bread or about how thankful we are for Canada to have so many resources here, while other countries might not have them.

“It was a wonderful experience.”

Ramadan wraps up at the end of this month.