There are more than 200 Muslim families in Sunnyvale, Vaseem says, and a large portion of that population observes the fast of Ramadan.

"It is compulsory that we fast during Ramadan," Vaseem says.

Saarah, Vaseem and Shahnaz's 9-year-old daughter, is not required to fast but has been fasting for the past two years along with her parents. Some children start fasting when they are as young as 7, Shahnaz explains. However, Hamzah, 6, and Zahid, 4, are both too young.

Fatimah Abdullah, 29, moved to the United States from Nigeria 11 years ago and has lived in Sunnyvale for more than a year. Her devout Muslim parents have always observed the fast and encouraged their children to fast if they wanted to. Abdullah says she began fasting when she was 7 years old.

"Ramadan was a very exciting time for me when I was a child," Abdullah says.

Understanding her excitement, her mother allowed Abdullah to fast until noon on some days during Ramadan, she says.

"We always had this big feast—and I wanted to be a part of it," she said.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Whereas this year the month of Ramadan began on Nov. 6, Ramadan can fall at any time during the year. Fasting can be quite challenging depending on when Ramadan falls, Vaseem says.

In the summer months, when days are long and nights are short, Muslims eat their morning meal, suhur, around 3:30 a.m. and cannot break fast until almost 9 p.m. It takes great mental strength not to drink anything during the summer days.

Elderly people, pregnant women and women nursing babies are not required to fast.

During Ramadan Muslims pray at least five times a day and do not eat or drink during daylight hours. So they wake up at least an hour before sunrise, offer their morning prayer, fajr, and eat their morning meal, called suhur. They fast until the sun sets that evening. They break fast at sunset with a meal, iftar, and offer the evening prayer, known as maghrib.

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer A rug woven with a passage from the Quran hangs on the wall of the Anjums' home.

Islam—which means "submission to the will of God" in Arabic—began with the Prophet Muhammad, who is said to be a descendent of Abraham and was born in the year 570 A.D. in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muhammad was always a contemplative and truthful man, Muslims believe. They believe that while meditating in a cave, 40-year-old Muhammad had a vision in which the angel Gabriel came to him and told him to preach the word of God—who is called Allah in Arabic.

Since Muhammad was illiterate, he memorized Gabriel's words and spoke them exactly as he received them. Some of his followers compiled Muhammad's speeches to make a book, which is known as the Quran. Muhammad began preaching that Allah was the supreme and only God that Muslims should pray to. The Kaaba, a cube-like building with a black stone in the center, is considered the most important shrine in Mecca. It is believed that Abraham built the Kaaba many centuries ago. Today Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with more than a billion followers in more than 50 countries.

The Muslim Community Association of the San Francisco Bay Area's Islamic Center in Santa Clara is where Muslims from all over Santa Clara County gather for prayers, especially during Ramadan. Muslims face Mecca (to the northeast from Silicon Valley) while they pray.

The Anjum family worships periodically at the Islamic Center in Santa Clara. The mosque, adhering to Islamic laws, is starkly simple and serene. According to Islamic law, Muslims should not indulge in idol worship or pray to any picture of God. The mosque has no adornments or pictures on any wall. There are separate prayer rooms for men and women and a room for washing hands and feet before every prayer.

The Islamic School adjoins the mosque. The school has K­8 classes that focus on Islamic studies, studies of the Quran and Arabic, in addition to the regular public school curriculum.

There is usually a lot of competition among children in the school to fast during Ramadan, Vaseem says. Saarah was motivated to fast when she attended the school and still continues to observe the fast, he says.

Most people attend the night prayers, isha and taraweeh, at the mosque, Vaseem says. However, there are close to 100 people at the mosque for other prayers during the day.

"More than 1,500 people—men, women and children—come to the mosque at night to pray and meet friends," Vaseem says. "You can see people from about 30 to 40 countries in the mosque."

The Quran is divided into 30 sections and is read from beginning to end during Ramadan, he says. It is not necessary that an imam—the equivalent of a minister in Christianity—lead people in prayer, Vaseem says. Anyone who is well-versed in the Quran can lead a prayer.

Every Muslim is required to adhere to the five pillars of Islam: Shahada—affirming that Allah is the supreme God; Salat—praying five times a day; Zakat—contributing a portion of one's wealth to the needy; Siyam—observing the fast during Ramadan; and Hajj—making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Vaseem says he accompanied his parents to Mecca on Hajj a few years ago.

Besides following the five pillars, Muslims also have to practice abstinence during Ramadan. Smoking and sexual relations are forbidden.

Ramadan is a period of spiritual revival and communion with God, says Dina Hadi.

"Although the fast is observed and there are other restrictions, the underlying concept is reflection and contemplation," Hadi says.

This is the time for Muslims to reflect on their actions and thoughts and communicate with God, she says. Hadi, 24, whose parents are Egyptian, was born and raised in the United States and lives in Sunnyvale now.

"Ramadan is a time for self-preservation and self-control," Aram Azadpour says.

Originally from Iran, Azadpour has lived in Sunnyvale for three years.

Ramadan is also a time to strengthen family and community ties.

Many Muslim families invite their friends and families for iftar, the evening meal to break fast. Abdullah had an iftar party in her home for more than 20 people during the first week of Ramadan.

The mosque also holds community iftar for large gatherings, according to Sameer Laymoun, executive board member of the mosque. It could be a potluck, where each family brings a dish, or it could be catered by restaurants or organizations, he says.

Vaseem and Shahnaz often invite their friends and family members for iftar in their home, they say. Like most hostesses, Shahnaz cooks up quite a spread for iftar. Besides the traditional dates, mixed nuts and olives, she has cooked meat-stuffed samosas, flavored rice with peas and carrots, shish kebabs, sliced cucumber and tomatoes, warm pita bread, beef and potato curry, and a whole roasted chicken attractively displayed on a festively set table. All the meat that the Anjum family eats is always Halal, Shahnaz says.

Muslims are required to eat only Halal meat, prepared in adherence to Islamic law.

"Halal meat is only from those mammals which have regurgitant digestive systems, like cows and sheep," Azadpour says. "Even fish with scales is considered Halal."

However, the fish or the animal should be caught alive and then killed for it to be considered Halal, he says. When an animal is killed for meat, the throat has to be cut and bled without the neck being broken, he says. By bleeding the animal, one can get rid of all the germs and infections, if there are any, he says. One is also required to pray for the animal while it is being killed, he says.

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Shahnaz Anjum and her family festively decorate the dining room table for 'iftar,' the evening meal to break fast for Ramadan.

This Dec. 6, the first day of the 10th month, Shawwal, Muslims celebrate Eid al Fitr, the end of Ramadan. Families and friends exchange new clothes and gifts. Shahnaz says she is looking forward to shopping for Eid during the Thanksgiving sales this year.

For more information about Islam, visit www.mca-sfba.org or contact Dian Alyan, the Muslim Community Association outreach coordinator, at 408.970.0647.