Calgary’s Muslim community ready as Ramadan kicks off Saturday

Calgary Muslims prepare for Ramadan, which starts at dawn on Saturday, March 1. (Quinn Keenan)

Muslims in Calgary are getting ready to mark the holiest month in their religion.

Nearly two billion Muslims around the world will observe Ramadan.

It’s a sacred time for Muslims – to strengthen their spirituality and increase charity work, all while abstaining from food and water from dawn to dusk.

Fasting is a practice to teach Muslims how to resist temptation but also to reach a higher spiritual enlightenment.

“The objective of the Quran means you and I become a righteous person,” said Iman Syed Soharwardy of the Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Assembly. “Honest person, sincere person or because what fasting develops in a person is the nearness of God – presence of God – I can hide things from my community and eat something but I know God is watching me everywhere, whether in front of people or not in front of people.”

Calgary’s Green Dome Mosque will be hosting special nightly prayers as well as iftar dinners over the month of Ramadan, which are expected to draw upwards of 500 people each night.