The meaning of being an American and Muslim

Many people have heard of Ramadan, but aren't familiar with the purpose, what it means to Muslims or the practices that occur during Ramadan.

Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, Ramadan officially began on the evening of July 31, 2011, meaning that Monday was the first day of daylight fasting -- a central part of Ramadan.

Muslims fast each day of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset, as fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Many people associate fasting with Ramadan, and while that is an extremely important part of it, Ramadan isn't just about skipping food and beverages during daylight. Fasting is one of the ways that Muslims strengthen their beliefs.

And as the University of Colorado explains, "[Ramadan] is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. There are as many meanings of Ramadan as there are Muslims."

President Obama shared his thoughts on Ramadan on the White House Blog: "As Ramadan begins, Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan is a festive time that is anticipated for months by Muslims everywhere."

"Families and communities share the happiness of gathering together for iftar and prayers. Bazaars light up the night in many cities from Rabat to Jakarta. And here in the United States, Muslim Americans share Ramadan traditions with their neighbors, fellow students, and co-workers.

The evening’s guest was Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss-born grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood and one of Europe’s most prominent and controversial intellectuals. Ramadan, an Oxford professor with degrees in Western philosophy and Islamic jurisprudence from Swiss and Egyptian universities, is an outspoken proponent of Western Islam and pluralist societies. While the multicultural nature of the United States makes the Muslim American experience rather different from the European one, in recent years, Islamophobia has been on the rise in America.

In 2004, Ramadan was en route to the United States to start a tenured position at the University of Notre Dame when the State Department revoked his visa. The Bush administration questioned a $1,300 donation Ramadan had made to a European organization with ties to the Palestinian group Hamas, which the United States lists as a terrorist organization. Six years of legal fights later — during which the American Civil Liberties Union used Ramadan’s case to argue against the constitutional legitimacy of the Patriot Act — he obtained a visa to enter this country in 2010. His New Jersey visit was one of his first U.S. trips after the controversy.

Ramadan’s arguments against isolation and assimilation have upset many both in the West and in Muslim-majority countries, but his belief that one can be fully European (or fully American) and fully Muslim is taking hold, especially among younger generations. With the number of Muslim Americans slated to double over the next two decades — with many more born on U.S. soil — Ramadan’s call for a diverse society in which Muslim citizens are active participants inspires many.

"I’m an American, I’ve always been an American," said Sana Khan, 29, a Clifton native who came to hear Ramadan’s talk. Khan, who is of Pakistani descent and married to a Palestinian-American, said that after 9/11, some Muslim Americans retired to their communities while others went out of their way to prove they are Americans.

"We needed someone like (Ramadan) to remind us that being Muslim doesn’t separate us from being American, and being American doesn’t separate us from being Muslim," she said.

What follows are some excerpts from Ramadan’s address — from his thoughts on integration to his lessons on civic responsibility.