Reflections on Ramadan with the “Fasting5k”

The organizers of the national “Fasting5k” run at the WBEZ studios.
The organizers of the national “Fasting5k” run at the WBEZ studios. Anna Waters / WBEZ
The organizers of the national “Fasting5k” run at the WBEZ studios.
The organizers of the national “Fasting5k” run at the WBEZ studios. Anna Waters / WBEZ

Reflections on Ramadan with the “Fasting5k”

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Ramadan ends Thursday at sunset. Chicago-area Muslims are building community and awareness around their holy season. Dr. Aisha Siddiqui is a pediatric anesthesiologist at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. A devoted runner, last year, she, and her children: Rayaan; Luqmaan; and Nusaybah, started the Chicago edition of national “Fasting5k” runs. This Ramadan, they organized runs at two Chicagoland locations. The 2018 mission was geared towards “Youth safety against gun violence”. Proceeds went to the Chicago-based not-for-profit Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), led by MacArthur Grant award-winner Rami Nashishibi. Dr. Siddiqui, and her family, join us to share their journey of combining Ramadan with social activism. Joining them is Dr. Aisha El-Amin, associate provost and chief of staff at the University of Illinois at Chicago. A member of IMAN, she’s also an avid runner. Dr. El-Amin will discuss the spiritual importance of Ramadan, and how the holiday resonates in current times, which she believes are especially turbulent for American Muslims.