Bill Text: TX HR613 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the holy month of Ramadan 2023.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-30 - Reported enrolled [HR613 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR613-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 613 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Ramadan, the ninth month of the year on the Islamic | ||
| calendar, is a time when Muslims in Texas and around the world focus | ||
| on peace and self-improvement; and | ||
| WHEREAS, On the Muslim lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan | ||
| begins and ends with the sighting of the crescent moon; Muslims | ||
| affirm their spiritual beliefs by fasting from sunrise to sunset, a | ||
| practice that is one of the Five Pillars of Islam; it cultivates | ||
| self-discipline, gratitude, and compassion for those less | ||
| fortunate; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Fasting is a requirement of all Muslims who have | ||
| passed the threshold of puberty, with exemptions for those with | ||
| certain conditions, such as pregnancy or illness; each day of | ||
| abstention from eating and drinking is bracketed by the first meal | ||
| of the day, Suhoor, and the meal that breaks the fast, Iftar; many | ||
| mosques host daily community dinners where people can break their | ||
| fast together; families often invite guests to Iftar and then | ||
| proceed to the mosque for the nightly prayer and a special Ramadan | ||
| prayer, taraweeh, during which the prayer leader recites at least | ||
| one thirtieth of the Qur'an, in order to recite the entire Qur'an by | ||
| the end of the month; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Ramadan is a time of intense reflection and | ||
| spiritual rejuvenation, with more precious moments devoted to | ||
| reading the Qur'an and performing appropriate prayers; moreover, | ||
| adherents participate in charitable giving, and many mosques hold | ||
| food drives and fundraisers for philanthropic organizations; some | ||
| mosques host open houses to welcome friends and neighbors of other | ||
| faiths to share the bounty of Iftar; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The end of Ramadan is marked by a major holiday, Eid | ||
| ul-Fitr; a special prayer and sermon in the morning are followed by | ||
| a community celebration, and friends and family spend the day | ||
| socializing, eating, and reuniting with old acquaintances; food, | ||
| games, and presents for children are important elements of the | ||
| festivities; and | ||
| WHEREAS, While concentrating on spiritual growth during | ||
| Ramadan, Muslims also strengthen the bonds of community and express | ||
| their faith through efforts in behalf of the collective good, and it | ||
| is truly fitting to acknowledge the deep significance of this | ||
| important season; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize the holy month of Ramadan 2023 and | ||
| extend to Muslims across the Lone Star State sincere best wishes for | ||
| a meaningful and joyous observance. | ||
| Bhojani | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 613 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 30, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
