SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Muslims Begin Holy Month of Ramadan

San Fernando Valley Muslims began abstaining from food and drink during the daytime hours Thursday, the first day of Islam’s holiest month, Ramadan.

Taped messages left on several telephone lines of the Islamic Center of Northridge, the largest Muslim center in the Valley, informed callers that the 29- or 30-day period had started at daybreak.

Center officials follow the Muslim tradition of relying on sightings of the crescent sliver of the new moon to signal the beginning and end of each month--thus, the uncertainty on the length of months.

Children, the elderly and ailing are excused from the strict regimen, but able-bodied adults are expected to confine eating to pre-dawn and evening meals. Adults are also asked to abstain from smoking and marital intercourse during fasting hours.

Coincidentally, Islam’s period of abstinence and spiritual reflection begins this year about the same time as Lent, the less-demanding Christian period that emphasizes religious introspection. Lent started Wednesday for Western Christendom and begins next week for Eastern Orthodox churches.