Ramadan

In the article â€Å"Young Saudis Reinvent Ramadan,† the author highlights some issues involved in the celebration of Ramadan, or the month meant for fasting. In most places, particularly in the rich country of Saudi, young and old turn night into day to be able to eat, watch and do other things, while spending the day sleeping. Even some services are available until dawn. These practices are highly contradictory to the real essence of Ramadan, which is to sacrifice by fasting during the day in order to atone for past sins and be reborn after the month is over. Sleeping during the day undermines the value of sacrifice since those who do this are free to indulge during the night. The government and its people have practiced Ramadan for a long time but the practice had been superficial, as pointed out by the author. Another issue that the author highlights is how many Saudis have taken a new look at the puritanical approach to Islam after the fateful 911 attack. Many Saudis have now realized that extremism does not necessarily mean you are doing things for God. The students and young people described in the article are modernist because they chose to return to the real essence of Islam, which is making God the center of everything. Modernism makes God the center of the universe and the ultimate authority. Modernism is also about making the religious practice adapt to the times. They used their belief to apply to the modern world by helping to alleviate even for a while the needs of the people around them. They did not eliminate God from the center, instead, they refocused and found new meaning. The article as a whole speaks of hope and better understanding spreading among the youths of Saudi. They saw the excesses of the population during Ramadan and want to take a lead in reviving the real spirit of fasting. By giving to the poor, the young Saudi persons hope that the rest of the population would follow and remain true to the spirit of Ramadan.