THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701290106
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT MCCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 71 lines
Dr. Mahmoud ``Dean'' Elfath hasn't taken food or drink from sunrise until sunset since Jan. 10. Along with more than a dozen other Chesapeake residents of the Islamic faith, he will continue the ritual until Feb. 8 or 9 when the holy month of Ramadan ends.
``This is a period of the year when your mind is very clear,'' said Elfath, the chief medical officer and head of research for the Mid-Atlantic region of the American Red Cross in Norfolk. ``I achieve a lot during this time, but I also fast sporadically throughout the year.''
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year and is celebrated as the time when Islam's founder, Muhammad, received the first of the revelations that make up the Koran, the holy book of Islam.
Elfath and several of his fellow Chesapeake Muslims, worshippers of the Islamic faith, attend the Islamic Center of Tidewater on 49th Street in Norfolk adjacent to the Old Dominion University campus. The Hampton Mosque, and the Norfolk Masjid on 34th and Granby streets are two other sites of Islamic worship in the area.
About 75 Muslims went to the Islamic Center for a recent daily breaking of the fast and worship. According to Islam tradition, men and women pray separately during social gatherings. Muslims remove their shoes before worship. A large pile of shoes sat outside the front door of the Center.
``Prayer without shoes is for cleanliness,'' said Ashraf M. Attia, 28, the president of ODU's Muslim Student Association. ``Islam is a religion that focuses strongly on cleanliness and discipline.''
Although Muslims pray at home, many prefer to attend a mosque during Ramadan. After sunrise, they break the fast with an ``iftar,'' a small meal usually of water and dates. Following the iftar, there is more prayer and then a large dinner of a variety of foods.
``Usually in Ramadan, there are additional prayers and readings of the Koran at the end of the day,'' said Elfath, 44.
Elfath estimates that there are 2,000 to 3,000 orthodox Muslims in Hampton Roads, of which about 65 percent are of Middle Eastern or Asian descent and 35 percent black. Orthodox Muslims are a separate group from Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam followers.
``I go to the Center most of the year, but Ramadan is a time of a higher sense of awareness,'' said Chesapeake resident Tariq O. Jawhar, 22, an English student at ODU. ``It's a time of unity, rich, poor, young and old coming together.''
Devout Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Faith: the profession of the unity of God and the prophethood of Muhammad, prayer five times daily, almsgiving, fasting, and at least one pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
``Fasting during Ramadan is difficult only during the first day,'' said Dr. Ahmad Eldemeri, 39, a citizen of Egypt in a resident fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. ``After that, you get used to it.''
In addition to fasting, sexual activity and smoking are prohibited during Ramadan. Exceptions are made for travelers, the sick, nursing mothers and soldiers on the march, but they have to make up the ritual later. Before Muslims can complete their observance of Ramadan, they must give aid and money to the poor. The holy month will end on Feb. 8 or 9, depending on the lunar cycle and conditions.
Elfath said if the number of Muslims in Chesapeake continues to grow, he hopes to see a mosque or center built in the city.
``A mosque in Chesapeake would be very convenient,'' he said. MEMO: Call the Islamic Center at 423-8609 for more information. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by IAN MARTIN
About 75 area Muslims removed their shoes in worship during services
at the Islamic Center of Tidewater near Old Dominion University.