美国国家公共电台 NPR--Muslims begin fasting from dawn to dusk for the month of Ramadan

Muslims begin fasting from dawn to dusk for the month of Ramadan

Transcript¹

Muslims around the world are welcoming Ramadan. A month of fasting and prayer represents the most sacred time of the year in the Islamic tradition.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

When the sun set last night, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began, which means that many observant Muslims are fasting today. Muslims believe that this is the month in which God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Muhammad, who is considered the final prophet of Islam. So for 30 days, those who observe fast from dawn to dusk.

NISA MUHAMMAD: No food. No water. And it's just an exciting time to have a reset², so to speak.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Nisa Muhammad is the assistant dean for religious life at Howard University. She says Ramadan is a time to focus on family, prayer and gratitude³ for all that you have.

MUHAMMAD: While we are fasting from food and drink, there are people who have to fast from food and drink all the time. They don't have access to food. They don't have access to clean water. And so during this process, God wants us to understand, you know, what it means to be hungry, what it means to be thirsty.

FADEL: Of course, there are religious exemptions⁴ for people over health and travel.

MUHAMMAD: If you find that it is too challenging and you have to eat, go ahead. You know, Islam is not meant to be a burden.

INSKEEP: Abdoul Bah is a senior at Howard and a member of the Muslim Student Association.

ABDOUL BAH: The first time I fasted the entire month of Ramadan, I was, I believe, 9 - 8 or 9. I was in the - I was in elementary school. And it was a huge thing for me.

INSKEEP: Bah says Ramadan is about more than just giving up food and water. It focuses on spiritual discipline.

BAH: But also amplifying⁵ all the good in the religion, amplifying our prayers, making sure our prayers are more intact. We're more focused. We read more of the Quran or we - you know, we're on our best behavior. You know, we're not talking bad about anyone. We're not talking down on anything where, you know, we have a positive outlook on life. And we're focused on what really matters.

FADEL: Bah says he and his friends once organized a fundraiser for a mosque⁶ in New York. They set a goal to raise $10,000 and ended up bringing in twice as much.

BAH: These are kids our age, a little bit older, a little bit younger from our communities. And it's just - it's all in the spirit of Ramadan. They know that that money can help out a lot of people. And Ramadan is a time to give. Ramadan is a time to be better than we are before.

FADEL: A time to give, a time to be better than we were before. Words to live by any month of the year, really.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 reset   

v.重新安排，复位；n.重新放置；重放之物

参考例句：

• As soon as you arrive at your destination,step out of the aircraft and reset your wristwatch.你一到达目的地，就走出飞机并重新设置手表时间。
• He is recovering from an operation to reset his arm.他做了一个手臂复位手术，正在恢复。

3 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

4 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

5 amplifying   

放大，扩大( amplify的现在分词 )； 增强； 详述

参考例句：

• Often they use borrowed funds, amplifying their gains and losses. 他们通常会用借贷的资金交易，从而放大收益或损失。
• An amplifying type (or analog) device, as opposed to digital device. 放大器类（或模拟）器件，相对于数字器件而言的。

6 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。