Muslim Worship Center opens at Nellis Published Aug. 24, 2009 Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The Nellis chapel opened a Muslim prayer room in observation of the season of Ramadan, Aug. 21. Starting Aug. 22, Ramadan takes place the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and lasts 29 days. This special time will be celebrated by more than one billion Muslims throughout the world. Ramadan is the third of The Five Pillars of Islam and emphasizes spiritual matters rather than the physical needs of the body. This emphasis can be found in spending more time in worship, reading of the Quran, giving to charity, purifying one's behavior and helping others. The other four pillars of Islam are: faith or belief in the oneness of God and the finality of Muhammad; prayers five times a day; almsgiving to the needy; and a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. This season focuses on fasting, with a greater emphasis on devotion to Allah. The fast for Ramadan lasts from dawn to dusk every day. During this time, practicing Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse. The ritual for most Muslims during this time is to wake before the sun rises, eat a meal together with family and gather again as a family for a meal after the sun sets. Fasting is the main focus of Ramadan, but travelers, sick people and pregnant women are excluded from this practice because it may cause them physical harm. For more information, contact the base chapel at (702) 652-2950.
