What Ramadan Actually Means (Not What You Think)

In this episode of WISE Women with Daisy Khan with host Dr. Daisy Khan, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf explains why Muslims fast and what Ramadan is meant to transform within the human being. The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar marks the first revelation of the Quran, when the command to read changed history. Fasting disciplines appetite, strengthens will, sharpens self-awareness, and builds empathy for those who live with hunger daily. It is also deeply communal. Public iftars, tarawih prayers, and acts of multiplied charity reshape entire neighborhoods. The Prophet warned that many fast and gain nothing but hunger and thirst. Intention is everything. Ramadan is not about food. It is about freedom from what controls you. Listen to WISE Women with Daisy Khan because every story matters. The qualities that sustain us through difficulty often become the very gifts we offer to the world. Like, follow, and connect with Dr Daisy Khan. #WISEWomenwithDaisyKhan #WISEWomen #Ramadan #WhatIsRamadan #WhyMuslimsFast #LaylatAlQadr #FastingInIslam #IslamicSpirituality #ImamFeisalAbdulRauf #DaisyKhan #InterfaithDialogue #RamadanExplained #SpiritualGrowth #FaithAsAForceForGood #MuslimCommunity #Iftar #Tarawih #Zakat #Peacebuilding Connect with Dr. Daisy Khan: Websites: https://daisykhan.com/https://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009431034002Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisykhan.nyc/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaisyKhan Follow WISE Women with Daisy Khan: Podcast: https://wisewomenwithdaisykhan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdaisykhan/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WISEWomenwithDaisyKhanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/WISEwomenwithdaisykhan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576656401275     Connect with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf: Website: https://cordobahouse.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImamFeisal/Twitter/X: https://x.com/imamfeisal Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is an American Muslim leader, author, and interfaith advocate whose work has shaped Muslim-West relations for more than two decades. He is the founder and chief executive of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative, organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, pluralism, and ethical leadership across faith communities. Imam Feisal serves as imam of Masjid Al Farah in New York City and has long been a prominent public voice calling for principled engagement, religious literacy, and peaceful coexistence. He is the author of several books, including What’s Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West. A graduate of Columbia University with advanced study in physics, he bridges spiritual scholarship with intellectual rigor, advancing a vision of Islam rooted in mercy, justice, and responsible civic participation.  WISE Women with Daisy Khan  Where Muslim voices rise, bridges are built, and history's unsung heroines reclaim their light. WISE Women with Daisy Khan gives voice to Muslims sharing their experiences with anti-Muslim bias, educates non-Muslims to become upstanders against discrimination, and spotlights extraordinary women throughout history whose contributions have been erased. We reclaim faith as a force for good while building bridges between East and West, transforming fear into understanding, one conversation at a time. We challenge disinformation with knowledge and empathy, confronting the weaponization of religion for political gain. This isn't just another podcast. It's a bridge between communities taught to fear each other, opening hearts and minds to build the understanding our divided world needs. Welcome to WISE Women. Where wisdom meets courage, and voices become bridges. News [Source: CBS Evening News] A man sent a hateful message to a Muslim candidate. He responded with a call for help, article by Steve Hartman https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-man-sent-a-hateful-message-to-a-muslim-candidate-he-responded-with-a-call-to-help/