D&T Rites: Moonfast (father/son)

for fathers and their sons ages 13 and up

Join me and Shaykh Suhail Mulla for this transitional journey as we honor our young men.

To mark our sons passing into manhood, we will embark on an adventure that will bring together the sacred Islamic practice of fasting during the “white days” with elements from our blessed Prophet’s Night Journey, may God bless him and give him peace.

Day 1: The day just before the full moon, this is our mirth day, and the last day of boyhood. We will mark this through slaughter. Then, while fasting, fathers and sons will make the short hike to our campsite, learning some basic wilderness skills along the way. Once in camp, we will wait for sunset before breaking our fast and circling up for a thorough grounding in the basics of religious practice and an exploration of manhood as it relates to our experience as Muslims living in the West.

Day 2: The day of the full moon, this is the day of transition. Resuming our fast, we make our way to our final campsite just a few miles short of the summit. While the sun is out, our sons may not speak other than to communicate need. This is the time for fathers to pass on what they will freely and without interruption. Upon making camp, we will await sunset at which point we break our fast and our sons may speak. This is their time to respond to all they’ve heard and to seek clarity in preparation for their Night Journey.

Upon the rising of the full moon, our sons will summit the mountain. Fathers will remain at camp.

Day 3: The day after the full moon, this is the day of receiving. We will resume our fast and our sons, having returned from the mountaintop as men, will lead us down and off the mountain. From there we will caravan to a sunset reception where they will be honored and each of them will relate their story of transition.

Throughout the journey, we will review the essentials of Islamic practice (fard ayn) to equip our sons for the obligations of religious life.

Due to current public health recommendations to help limit the spread of COVID-19, this trip has been cancelled.

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