As Ramadan is set to begin, Muslim Society of Guelph reminds it's a good time to give

Muslims across the region will be getting ready for the start of Ramadan over the weekend and local mosques are encouraging everyone to find a way to get involved.

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset. It's also a time to pray, give back to the community and reconnect with loved ones.

"Everything inherently slows down, and you take time to reflect on your spiritual well-being," Sara Sayyed, with the Muslim Society of Guelph, said.

Sayyed says getting ready for the month is a lot like making New Year's resolutions. She even encourages students at the Meezan School, where she is the principal, to sit down and set goals for the next 30 days.

"It's a really great time to reconnect and start some new habits and maybe make lifestyle changes," she explained.

"It's a good time to do it, because you're doing this for a whole month, and they say if you try to start a new habit, if you can do it for 21 days, it becomes a habit."

Giving back

During Ramadan, Sayyed said there is also a major emphasis on giving back to the community.

Many locals mosques hold food drives and other fundraising initiatives with local organizations.

Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, Sayyed said it often falls during the time of year when charities are most in need.

"It's not falling on the traditional times that charities do fundraising, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, so sometimes they're lagging in donations at this time."

Sayyed said charity is also a great way for non-Muslims to take part in Ramadan.

She added that most mosques will also invite members of the community to an Iftar dinner, where Muslims and non-Muslims can break the fast and share a meal together.

"Make some friends with people you would not have connected withand just see what's going on and get a new perspective," Sayyed said. "It's always great to build bridges and make new friendships."