"It's when the Prophet received the Qu'ran," said Ali. "When the angel Gabriel told him."
Muslims believe that Mohammed received the Qu'ran from the mouth of the angel Gabriel. Although Ali doesn't normally pray 5 times a day--he does during Ramadan. He also fasts from dawn to sunset.
"Because it's hard, it's discipline," he explains. "In the past, Muslims used to fight wars and not eat for many days. This tells you what it's like."
Another Iraqi on the patrol base told me that fasting, "reminds you of the poor, it reminds you what it is like to hunger. Many people give away food during Ramadan."
"Not everyone fasts?"
"You can eat after sundown."
Often Muslims enjoy large feasts during Ramadan evenings. It is a month of extremes. Of hunger and satisfaction, of prayer and conversation, of solitude and companionship.
"Allah tells us to fast."
"In the Qu'ran?"
"Yes, and everything is good, like good points, you earn good points when you fast... forgiveness."
"You become holy?"
"Yes, even your breath it is holy."
Another Muslim on the patrol base asked me if we could give extra fabric to widows in our sewing class "as a present for Ramadan." Mohammed asked if we could buy 100 sheep to give away poor families in the city.
"Where would we put them? There'd be a riot." I could see a mob of sheep and poor Iraqis swarming the front gate.
"Like Christmas," explained Mohammed.
"Riots?"
"No man, gifts... to celebrate."
