For Christians, the most important religious holidays are Christmas and Easter.

For Jews, the High Holidays in the fall mark the most significant days on the religious calendar.

But for Muslims — who, like Christians and Jews, are also members of an Abrahamic faith — the spiritual highlight of the year is taking place now.

“Ramadan is a very special time of the year for Muslims. It’s a time for the revival and renewal of faith, a time of reflection on the past year and looking forward to the coming year,” said Moussa Elbayoumy, director of the Islamic Center of Lawrence, 1917 Naismith Drive.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, and the holiest month of the year to followers of Islam, began Oct. 15 and is expected to end (based upon the appearance of the new moon) Nov. 13.

Because the beginning of the Islamic lunar months depends on the actual sighting of the crescent moon, the start and end dates of Ramadan (pronounced RAHM-uh-don) may vary.

Muslims believe that is was during Ramadan, more than 1,400 years ago, that God (whom Muslims call Allah, creator of the universe) began to reveal their holy book, the Quran, to the prophet Mohammed.

During Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast from dawn until sunset, pray six times a day instead of the usual five, and withdraw from the sensual pleasures of the world.

Muslims are expected to concentrate on their faith and spend less time on everyday concerns. The fasting is intended to teach discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments.

Fasting is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, along with a declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca (Islam’s holiest city, in Saudi Arabia).

“It’s a time for the renewal of the person’s ability to discipline themselves, to restrain their own desires and control their own urges and to feel the suffering of others,” Elbayoumy said.

Attendance swells

Ramadan might seem to the outsider to be a time of rigor and discomfort, but Muslims don’t view it that way.

“It’s a month of joy, a month that people look forward to with anticipation. There are gifts for children that usually take place on the day of eid-ul-fitr (the day after Ramadan, the start of the new month),” Elbayoumy said.

“You are really celebrating that God enables us fulfill our duties, (to) observe the month of Ramadan, and we celebrate the joy and achievement that comes with it.”

During religious observances such as Ramadan, Elbayoumy said, the number of Muslims who worship at the Islamic Center swells considerably. Nearly three times as many people as usual will attend the first prayer of the day, between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. And attendance at the final evening prayer doubles or triples.

The center is open for prayer every day during Ramadan, just as it is the rest of the year. But during the monthlong religious observance, there are six daily prayer times rather than the usual five. The extra prayer is called Taraweeh.

“It’s one of those prayers that includes reading longer portions of the Quran. During that prayer, we start reciting the Quran at the beginning of the month, and by the end of the month, we hope to have recited as much of it as we can,” Elbayoumy said.

He estimated that the number of people in Lawrence who consider themselves Muslim, or who come from a Muslim background, is about 1,500.

Sixty-five percent of them are students at Kansas University, he said. The center maintains close ties to the school’s Muslim Student Assn.

Night of Power

The last 10 days of Ramadan are especially important to Muslims, because, according to Islamic tradition, the first revelation of the Quran originally took place during that time period.

The night that the prophet Muhammad is believed to have received the first revelation from the archangel Gabriel — including the first few verses of the Quran — is now commemorated by Muslims as the Night of Power (lailat-ulkadar).

“During those last 10 days and nights of Ramadan, it’s traditional for people to stay up as much of the night as they can, and pray a special prayer — Tahajud,” Elbayoumy said.

This is also the time during Ramadan when Muslims are supposed to give charity to their community’s needy.

Traditionally, Muslims greet each other during the monthlong religious observance by saying, “Ramadan Mubarak,” or “Ramadan kareem.” Mubarak means “blessed” in Arabic; kareem means “generous.”

And how should a non-Muslim extend holiday greetings to a Muslim friend, neighbor or co-worker?

“Just say, ‘Happy Ramadan,'” Elbayoumy said.