Moon Watchers: Shirin's Ramadan Miracle

Looking through the tall trees in their backyard in Maine, Shirin and her dad search for a glimpse of the new moon, the sign that the month of Ramadan has begun.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world pray, fast, and pay special attention to doing good deeds.

Shirin is nine and thinks she should be able to fast like her older brother Ali, but her parents feel she is still too young to go without food and water all day.

When Shirin catches Ali sneaking food after school, she Should she tattle or is this an opportunity for a good deed?

Shirin feels left out when the others break their fasts to have their own meals after dark and in the early morning, before it is light again.

But then her grandmother tells a story that shows her a way she can feel more a part of Ramadan and the traditions and closeness her family enjoys during this special month of the year.

Her good deeds result in a surprise for everyone! For Muslim people around the world, Ramadan is a month-long time for prayer, fasting, and charity.

This "month of blessing" is not viewed as a time of hardship but instead as a time to develop self-discipline and increase awareness of and compassion for the poor and the hungry.

It is a time to deepen connection with Allah through prayer and community. For this much-anticipated month, Muslim people gather together in homes, shops, and restaurants to break their fasts and pray.