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Ramadan, for Albanian Muslims, is a significant event in one's spiritual
life. The month-long festival
of self-denial (fasting) and separation (from the world) is supposed to
display the disciplined and virtuous aspects of their faith.
Albanians of any
religion or belief are turning the corner materially.
Falling into this narrow Balkan window of prosperity afforded them,
they are only too eager to display this newfound wealth.
My Muslim friends are perplexed.
In a number of cases they are clever enough to attain yet are
restricted from displaying their riches.
As far as Ramadan is concerned, do they exercise restraint and
pause in this material frenzy, or do they cut straight across the line and
“show the goods”?
Like a young man skateboarding down a ramp going faster and
faster not knowing why he started, many Muslims in this country have
little knowledge of the faith they embrace and the ever-increasing cost of
adherence. A good friend of
mine was recently seated at a table of friends when the drinks were handed
around. He said that he wished to abstain from alcohol.
With he and I being the only two not to partake, I asked him his
reason for not drinking. A strange embarrassment swept over him.
He said he didn’t really know why.
He is like many of his countrymen who have leaned back against time
and wistfully feel refined by an old faith with no new knowledge.
When the impulse to learn comes to the rim of their heart, my
friends might leap forth and as their brothers to the east say, “In the
name of Allaijh.”
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