RAMADAN MUBARAK!

“Wow, all praises are due! There it is,” said Rahman. “What I’ve been looking for, the Hilal [new moon]. It’s splendid. Ramadan Mubarak, Raheemah!” Rahman said as he hugged his sister.

“Ramadan Kareem,” Raheemah said.

“Freddie, I first want to say to you, ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ and, I know your are confused, so let me explain. Like I said before, the sighting of the Hilal [new moon], marks the beginning of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast for 30 days.”

“Thirty days? Rahman? Are you kidding? Fasting means not eating. You mean you don’t eat for 30 days?”

“Sort of,” said Rahman. “We do wake up in the morning before the sun rises to eat a meal. But after that, we don’t eat again until the sun goes down. Remember the Koran, our holy book?”

“Yes,” Freddie responded.

“Well, we read a bit of it every day during Ramadan until it is all read.”

“Wow!” Freddie shouted. “What else do you do during Ramadan?”

“Besides reading, we spend more time with our family, we give to people who are in need, and we’re supposed to be nice. You know, simple stuff. Oh, and when it’s time to break our fast, when the sun sets, we can either have a big meal with our family, or go to the Masjid, our holy place, and eat with everybody else. Afterward, we come together for spiritual purposes. It’s fun. I’m so excited!”

“Wow, even though it seems hard, it does sound like fun,” Freddie said.

“It’s not that hard,” replied Rahman. “You can do anything you put your mind to.”

“Rahman, what does Ramadan Mubarak mean?” asked Freddie.

“It’s like wishing someone happy holidays,” replied Rahman. “It means ‘Blessed Ramadan.’ When someone says it to you, you’re supposed to say back, ‘Ramadan Kareem,’ which means, ‘And a bountiful Ramadan to you.’ It’s sort of like saying, ‘thank you.’ ”

“Well, Ramadan Mubarak,” said Freddie.

“Thanks Freddie. And happy Kwanzaa to you!”

“Rahman,” yelled Raheemah. “It’s already 10 o’clock! We better go home. Don’t you have to wake up early tomorrow morning to fast? Are you going to be able to do it?”

Wednesday: Will Rahman wake up before the sun rises?

* Author and educator Katrina Hasan Hamilton would like to wish everyone happy holidays and extend the greetings of “Ramadan Mubarak” to Muslim children all over the world.

* This story will be on The Times’ Web site at https://www.latimes.com/kids.