Every evening, after the breaking the dawn-to-dusk fast, hundreds of Muslims flock to mosques for prayers and Qur’an recitation. (Google photo)

CAIRO — Like other communities of their faith around the globe, Muslims in South Korea observe the holy fasting month of Ramadan by flocking to mosques every day for prayers and Qur’an recitation.

Every evening, after the breaking the dawn-to-dusk fast, the Central Masjid in the heart of Seoul draws hundreds of worshippers from all ages, Koreans or foreigners, the Chosun Ilbo reported on Thursday, September 11.

Zain, a 38-year-old Pakistani, comes to the mosque after closing his clothing shop in the Itaewon area.

Seid Issdram, a 30-year-old Moroccan who works in the nearby Gyeonggi Province, travels an hour and a half every day to come to Seoul to pray in the central mosque.

Muslim worshipers fill up the streets around the mosque and draw attention while exchanging the "Assalamu Alikum" Muslim greeting.

Women in their hijab also come in large numbers, sometimes with their children who are left to play in the playground in front of the mosque.

Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar, is a time for Muslims to feel closer to God through prayer, self-restraint and good deed.

During this holy month, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain during daylight hours from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

According to the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), which was established in 1967, there are about 120,000 to 130,000 Muslims living in South Korea, both Koreans and foreigners.

The majority of the Muslim population is made up of migrant workers from Pakistan and Bangladesh, but the number of Korean Muslims amounts to some 35,000.

Challenges

However, the joy of Ramadan is sometimes marred.

"My friends ask me why I’m not eating anything these days, so I tell them I’m on a diet," says Ahn Tae-hwan, a 15-year-old middle school student.

Sung Ju-young, 25, finds it difficult to make his friends understand why he cannot eat pork or drink alcohol whenever they are hanging out.

Many of his friends are left to think that he is simply allergic.

Ali Ahmad, a 31-year-old Egyptian studying at Seoul National University, notes that the people of Korea do not seem to know much about Islam.

"Many people in Korea have a negative view of Muslims when they watch global news on terrorism," notes Seid, the Moroccan worker.

Lee Ju-hwa, KMF secretary general agrees.

"[The Korean society] should not view Islam with prejudice, and recognize the fact that Muslims are also part of the Korean society living and working in the same country."