In addition to fasting, Ramadan is a time of giving, say volunteers in Vancouver's Muslim community
For the last 15 years, members of Metro Vancouver's Muslim community have hosted a food drive during Ramadan
When Ramadan is mentioned, fasting may be the first thing that comes to mind, with the holy month in the Muslim calendar entailing forgoing food and drink.
But it's also about giving.
In Metro Vancouver, members of the Muslim community have been hosting food drives during Ramadan for the last 15 years.
"In our Ismaili community we actually have the Ramadan food drive and in all of our Jamatkhanas [place of prayer], we are allowed to bring … items and then we donate to several food banks across the Lower Mainland," said Farzana Kherani, a volunteer in the Ismaili Muslim community.
WATCH | Muslims in Metro Vancouver give out food during their holy month:
Zakat, or almsgiving, is the practice of contributing to society, financially as well as through time and actions, for example through volunteering.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Muslims practice Zakat everyday — but more so during Ramadan.
"People just focus on the eating and drinks and it's a lot more than eating and drinking," said Dr. Akber Mithani, a medical doctor and the president of the Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre in Richmond, just south of Vancouver.
Kherani said members of other Muslim communities, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as grocery stores like Save-on-Foods have also contributed to their food drive.
In the last five years, the Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre has partnered with the Ismaili community to collect and donate boxes of food to Metro Vancouver food banks in need, and in assembling Ramadan hampers.
"We want to make sure the families who are fasting, Muslim families, have food on their table at the time of breaking their fast," said Kaniz Bhimani, a volunteer at the Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre.
"We provide food hampers to families who could use a little bit of support because right now as you know, food prices are just skyrocketing."
The practice also involves younger generations. For Kherani's daughter, 11-year-old Omera, giving is not just about Ramadan.
"It feels really good to just know I'm helping other people and they've helped me so much in my life ... and I can really give back to my community like that," Omera said.
Farzana Kherani said she wants to see more community members step in to help during this time, whether or not they are Muslim.
"Service is not something you're entitled to," she said. "But it's a gift that's given to you and to share."
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