This past week, my kids and I have been preparing for Ramadan and watching old Star Trek re-runs. So it's probably unsurprising that, as I rummaged through my garage in search of my collection of Ramadan lanterns, it struck me how strikingly similar the core values in Star Trek are to those of Ramadan. Both Star Trek and Ramadan are all about universal values: compassion, discipline, and the struggle for self-improvement.
Muslims fast for 29 or 30 days, from dawn to sunset, during the lunar month of Ramadan (which started on August 21st this year), to cultivate compassion, practice discipline, and reflect on higher goals. The overarching reason is that of reflecting on and giving thanks to God. And, okay, I admit I always secretly hope for weight loss, too, but that's incidental.
Healthy adults must refrain from food, water, smoking, and conjugal relations during the fast. How's that for discipline? It's meant to be difficult (because it wouldn't require discipline, otherwise), but not dangerous. In fact, those who are sick, traveling, pregnant, nursing, or elderly should not fast.
As for compassion, we all know that others in the world lack food and water, but I can attest that nothing quite brings that home as poignantly as experiencing actual hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Moreover, although giving charity is already one of the five pillars of Islam, Muslims are required to give charity during Ramadan.
Finally, fasting is also about putting aside bodily needs and impulses and concentrating on higher things: self-improvement, reflection, and spirituality.
As I watched one of my favorite Star Trek episodes for probably the 10,000th time this week, I kept thinking about how compassion, discipline, and self-improvement -- the spirit of Ramadan -- were all embodied in it. In this episode, Captain Kirk (my first crush), encountered a planet that had been at war with another planet for five hundred years. The inhabitants had eliminated the bloody, messy part of war by waging a virtual war exclusively by computer and then simply requiring casualties to report to disintegration machines to die. Though their people died, the aliens reasoned, their civilization and culture remained intact.
But why wage a virtual war and not a real one? Because, the planetary inhabitants explained patiently to Kirk, humans were barbarians. Kirk was a barbarian (the aliens said so, many times). There could be no peace, ever. So it's better to just resign yourselves to dying and at least save your buildings.
I've remembered Captain Kirk's reply ever since I first heard it as a kid: "All right," he said, "I'm a barbarian. But I can wake up every morning and decide, 'You know, I don't think I'll kill anyone today. Not today.'" And he proceeded to give the aliens an incentive to stop their five-centuries-old war by destroying their computers and bringing back the horrors of real warfare so that they had no choice but to make peace.
Well, I think that's an apt demonstration of Captain Kirk's compassion (I understandd your thinking even though you're wrong-headed), his discipline (I won't kill anyone today), and his understanding of self-improvement (you have it in yourselves to make peace).
That's what Ramadan is all about, too. As President Obama indicated in his statement from the White House today, Ramadan is about understanding and reflecting on our common humanity, whatever our race or religion. The Qur'an states that fasting is prescribed for us, as it was prescribed for those who came before us, meaning the Jews. Indeed, in the 7th century, Muhammad urged his followers to fast during Yom Kippur, in solidarity with the Jews. This reminds me of Ramadan in 2001, during which Pope John Paul II urged his followers to fast in solidarity with Muslims. Call it karma, if you like.
Although I never saw Captain Kirk fasting, he clearly held a deep belief in common humanity (even with aliens), as well. So as I watch Star Trek with my kids during Ramadan, I hope that this belief is what they'll grow up with too -- a result of their common Muslim, American, and Trekkie heritage.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.