Blog Posts tagged with "Religion"

Staff Sgt. Joshua Dowell, 1st Armored Div., points out a hidden, simulated improvised explosive device to members of the 6th Iraqi Army Div., during a training exercise.

On August 11, Muslims around the world will observe Ramadan, a special month in the Islamic calendar. They believe that the first verses of the Muslim holy book, the Qu’ran, were revealed during this month, so it is a very significant time of year in the Muslim tradition. I have talked with some of my Muslim friends and colleagues about the significance of the month. By fasting from dawn to sunset and spending more time on prayers, they are going through a physical and spiritual cleansing, and fulfilling one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. They put a special emphasis on sharing meals with friends and family, and attend additional prayers in the evening after breaking the fast. The month is meant to allow Muslims to empathize with the poor and the hungry, to practice discipline and self-restraint, and to grow spiritually.

You may be wondering why the EUCOM commander is taking the time to talk about the significance of Ramadan. I am a firm believer in learning as much as we can about the peoples that we work with and their cultures. It helps us understand each other better and it also brings to our attention key events that we should keep in mind when planning our operations.

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Ralph R. Beam, Command Sergeant Major, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan, interacts with Afghanistan National Police recruits during a visit to TSS Costell in Kandahar.

As the NATO commander, I am paying very close attention to the progress of the NATO training missions in Iraq and in Afghanistan. As the majority of these troops are Muslim, many of whom will be fasting during Ramadan, our commanders who are leading the training mission will be aware of the special circumstances during this time. Troops who will be fasting may be physically weaker because they are abstaining from food and drink during the day. At sunset, troops will want to take time to have “iftaar”, the dinner that marks the break of a day of fasting, and take time for prayers. While we don’t want to slow the progress of the NATO training missions, we will keep in mind the importance of this special month and do what we can to make sure our Muslim friends can fulfill their religious duties. We also have many troops in the NATO Alliance, and others who are from nations contributing troops to Afghanistan, who will be observing Ramadan.

To our Muslim friends, Ramadan Mubarak, or Happy Ramadan. Through mutual respect and understanding, our partnership and joint efforts will grow and become stronger!

Adm. James Stavridis
Commander, U.S. European Command and
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe