Mohammad Zafrullah, a New Port Richey vascular surgeon, says Islam isn't about killing people but is a peaceful, loving religion.
TAMPA - Imam Zia Sheikh surveyed the gathering of almost 4,000 worshipers and implored them not to forget the spirituality they nourished during Ramadan. ``You must remember,'' said Sheikh, the chief cleric at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area. ``Are we going to go back to square one before Ramadan? No.''
Area Muslims gathered Sunday across the Bay area to observe the end of Ramadan, Islam's holy month of fasting and spiritual growth. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the first verses of the Koran, Islam's holy book, to the prophet Mohammed beginning about A.D. 618.
For some of the Muslims at the Islamic Society's mosque, this year's holy month took on special significance after the attacks Sept. 11 and the subsequent war in Afghanistan.
``Ramadan re-emphasizes what Islam is all about,'' said Bisher Tarabishy, a student at the University of South Florida. ``With everything going on in the world, it's important for us to get back to that spirituality.''
Throughout the morning, men and women hugged and welcomed one another in the mosque's courtyard with the traditional Muslim greeting ``Al salam alaykum,'' or ``May peace be upon you.''
The women, clothed in hijabs, or head veils, watched Zia Sheikh speak from the mosque's balcony area while the men gathered at floor level. Islam requires men and women to pray separately.
The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of Eid-al-Fitr. It is a time for celebration, as well as prayer, so several carnival rides and vendors were set up on the mosque's grounds for festivities after the morning services.
For Mohammad Zafrullah, the sight of families socializing after prayers embodies the true nature of Islam, in contrast to the television images of armed Taliban leaders.
``Osama bin Laden is not a true representative of Islam,'' said Zafrullah, who is a vascular surgeon from New Port Richey.
``This is. Islam isn't about killing people. It's a very peaceful and loving religion,'' Zafrullah said.
Rejoicing in community was the prevailing theme at a Sunday afternoon gathering of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Florida.
A group of about 200, including some moderate Muslims who don't follow the strictest teaching of Islam, met for a meal at Harrisons Grill & Bar in Clearwater. There they observed the end of Ramadan in keeping with Turkish custom by celebrating Seker Bayram, or the Candy Holiday.
``It's a four-day holiday at the end of Ramadan when people visit each other and renew friendships,'' said Cengiz Dokchen, director of the association. ``The common thing is to open up candy and give the kids change.''
This year, Ramadan brought out a mix of feelings for Idris Kadiracan, a Turkish Muslim who lives in Lakeland. He says he's glad more people are paying attention to Islam, adding that it made Ramadan more special this year, but he also fears a backlash from people angry about the attacks Sept 11.
``Islam is not in the closet anymore, but honestly, you do feel a sense of insecurity,'' he said.