The Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Christian season of Lent overlap this year. Both seasons emphasize the spiritual practice of fasting or giving up food as part of a spiritual observance. TCU faculty members Samuel Ross, associate professor of religion, and Erik Estrada, assistant professor of religion, study Islam and Christianity, respectively, and they talked to KERA's Miranda Suarez about what the seasons have in common.
“The first step will be to talk about what exactly Ramadan is. Muslims from approximately 6 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. this year, which is dawn to sunset, will abstain from all food, all drink, including water, which is an absolute fast. They will also abstain from sexual relations, and then there's a lot of additional practices that often happen,” Ross explained. “Muslims will often try to increase their reading of the Quran. They'll participate in evening prayers, at most, which are sort of extra prayers beyond the normal 5 times a day.”
“Lent is an invitation to the entire community to join in sort of that ascetical endeavor, which is to experience some form of self-deprivation and self-denial,” Estrada said. “It's a time of prayer and deep reflection. Another key point Dr. Ross mentioned is charity. So there are 3 pillars of Lenten experience which are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.”