RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Ramadan is a sacred time for Mohamed Fahmy. He calls people to prayer at the Muslim Association of Cleveland East. 

“This [prayer] is done five times a day, everywhere in the world,” Fahmy said.

Fahmy is vice president of the association and prepares to end his daily fast for Ramadan with special guests. 

“This is my granddaughters, my son and his wife,” Fahmy said.

His family joined him for iftar, a daily evening meal where Muslims gather to break their fast during the month of Ramadan. He said it’s emotional to break the fast together.

“I have to [be with them],” Fahmy said.

During Ramadan, Muslims traditionally abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk in order to practice discipline and spiritually develop.

“Alhamdulillah, it’s a good thing,” Fahmy praised.

According to holiday traditions, one must break the fast at a specific time each night with a bite of a date.

“Dates [are] very, very strong,” Fahmy said. “It’s sweet and nutritious.”

After officially breaking the fast, Fahmy headed to the prayer room, took his shoes off and grabbed a chair. Because his knees aren’t in the best condition to complete the prayer on the ground, he said the chair allows him to join in.

“The essential one is done, the auxiliary one we can do, inshallah,” Fahmy said about moving locations in the room to pray some more on his own.

After completing all of his prayers, Fahmy joined a line of people to make a plate of food, to feel the joy of Ramadan. 

“After the date, you can eat whatever you want,” Fahmy said.

So, he filled his plate with festive favorites that replenish energy levels, like meat, rice and a special salad.

“They call it ‘fattoush,’” Fahmy said.

 Fahmy said with food on his plate and his family and friends by his side, he’s grateful for this iftar.

“We are fasting all day long,” he said. “We don’t eat or drink. No water, no nothing, and this is a time we appreciate what God gives us.”