Muslims in St. Joseph are joining more than a billion adherents of the Islamic religion around the world as they prepare for the annual Ramadan observance, which starts on Saturday, June 28 and ends on July 28.

Participating in the monthlong observance is one of the five pillars, or basic requirements, for being a Muslim. Ramadan is a time for self-reflection and renewing one’s faith.

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk each day, increasing their prayers and daily readings of the Qur’an, increasing acts of charity, and refraining from sensual pleasures from dawn to dusk. Muslims believe the temporary hunger helps a person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry, while achieving growth in his or her spiritual life.

The start of Ramadan this year occurs during the hottest summer stretch with increased daylight. As a result, the fasting period each day is several hours longer than it would be in the winter. Ramadan is two weeks earlier each year.

This is the fourth Ramadan for the congregation of the Islamic Center of St. Joseph at its mosque at 2325 Messanie St. This Ramadan is also the fourth year the Islamic Center will be sponsoring meals and feeding needy on August 19 and October 21 at the Open Door Food Kitchen in Downtown St. Joseph.