Summer Ramadan; ‘Old News;’ Fleetwood Mac Tribute Album

09 August 2012

A Muslim family end their day of fasting with a meal at a mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

FAITH LAPIDUS: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

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I’m Faith Lapidus. This week, we play some older music recorded by newer bands…

We also report on “Old News…”

But first, some Muslims in America tell us how they are observing Ramadan this summer…

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Ramadan in Summer

FAITH LAPIDUS: Muslims around the world have been fasting for three weeks. They are not permitted to eat or drink anything in daylight hours during the month of Ramadan.

This year, the observance falls during summer in Earth’s northern hemisphere. In the United States, the fasting day is long and the weather can be hot. Barbara Klein tells how some American Muslims are dealing with this.

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BARBARA KLEIN: Fourteen year old Maleke Nabbus enjoys playing basketball with relatives during the summer, although they are all fasting. Maleke says they make some compromises to have fun.

MALEKE NABBUS: “It’s not that hard. Sometimes, like, you can’t play for that long, like you only play for an hour or so.”

His cousin Adeeb Baiou agrees. Adeeb also plays on an organized sports team. He says that activity is more competitive and intense. So he chooses to break his fast during games, like many other Muslim athletes.