An estimated 200,000 Muslims live in the state of Minnesota. When you walk into the businesses and the neighborhoods where Somalis reside, you would assume you are in a Muslim country. At night, houses of worship are full of people saying the so-called "Taraweeh" prayers identified with Ramadan.
据估计，如今居住在明尼苏达州的穆斯林有20万。一走进索马里人的商区或者生活的社区，你会以为自己来到了一个穆斯林国家。晚上，礼拜堂挤满了人，他们全都是来做斋月夜间祷告的。
Rowda Mosque in Minneapolis is one of the places where worshipers congregate. Imam Abdirazak Abshir Farah refers to the virtues all Muslims must observe during Ramadan.
Rowda寺位于明尼阿波利斯，是信徒们的聚集地之一。伊玛目Abdirazak Abshir Farah向大家介绍所有穆斯林在斋月中必须遵守的德行。
"Muslims who are fasting shouldn't only avoid eating and drinking but all evil deeds as well."
"禁食中的穆斯林不应该只禁吃喝，还应该禁止所有邪恶行为。"
During Ramadan, people strive to help the poor and the needy. Farhia Isse Qalanjo is a volunteer from the Minnesota branch of "Walaal Afuri,"an organization that helps poor people in Somalia.
在斋月中，人们努力帮助穷人和有需要的人。Farhia Isse Qalanjo是Walaal Afuri在明尼苏达分部的一名志愿者，Walaal Afuri位于索马里，是一个专门救济穷人的机构。

"In Somalia, there are people who have no relatives in foreign countries who send them money and are in dire needs. We are collecting the money for them. We don't know them but we got their contacts through friends."
在索马里，许多人在异国他乡没有亲戚，没有人给他们寄钱，而他们又迫切的需要帮助。我们正在为这些人筹钱，虽然不认识他们，但我们通过许多朋友和他们取得了联系。
Jamal Farah (also known as Happy Khalif) is a barber at Karmel Somali Mall. He is also a well-known comedian.
Jamal Farah（又称Happy Khalif）是一名理发师，现在在Karmel索马里购物中心工作。同时他也是一位知名的喜剧演员。
"Since I came to the U.S., I have never cooked food. Maybe, I occasionally make tea for myself. You can find everything in the mall, even there is a buffet upstairs. It is easy."
"自从来到美国以后，我都没怎么做过饭。有时候可能会给自己做点茶点。购物中心什么东西都有卖，甚至楼上还有自助餐厅，所以吃饭很好解决。"
Last year, the Minneapolis City Council approved a bill that permits Somali businesses to stay open after regular closing hours during the month of Ramadan. The owner of Safari Restaurant,Abdurahman Abkos believes this came as a result of the prominent role the Somali community plays in the city.
去年，明尼阿波利斯市议会通过了一项法案，允许索马里商户在斋月期间延长营业时间。Safari餐厅的老板Abdurahman Abkos认为，这项法案能通过，主要是因为索马里社区在这座城市中的地位愈发重要了。
"To extend the hours of operations during the Holy Month of Ramadan is a recognition of the role of the Somali and the Muslim communities in the city."
"在斋月期间能够延长营业时间，这证明索马里和穆斯林社区被这座城市认可了。"
This year, Ramadan came in the summer season. People fast between 17 and 18 hours. Some complain about the high temperature and lengthy hours, but find it spiritually rewarding.
今年的斋月适逢夏日，人们斋戒时间大概是17到18小时。虽然有些人对高温下的长时间斋戒颇有微词，但还是觉得这对于精神上的洗礼十分有益。