By NICK SLEPKO

On Dec. 19, Omran Abdurrahman, owner of Medina Grocery & Deli in Maple Leaf at 1421 NE 80th, and his friend Abdul Farah, like other Muslims around the world, began fasts as part of their observances of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"It's a month of worship, sharing, and caring - not just being," says Abdurrahman. "We go to Northgate Mosque and pray and break the fast in the evening when the sun sets." Like churches and synagogues on their respective holy days, mosque attendence more than doubles. The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon and that is why Ramadan comes two weeks earlier every year.

The month of Ramadan, itself, is not a holiday, but a chance to reflect on last year and fast to physically purify one's self as well as address past grievances.

So when asked if his grocery business suffers from a month of fasting, Abdurrahman just chuckles as he answers: "Just the opposite. The Muslim community still eats in the evenings, but they share a lot of food and give a lot to the needy during Ramadan. There's also a lot more sweets and desserts going around."

So if Abdurrahman's store is located in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, why does he call it the "Medina Grocery"? It's because Medina in this case refers to the second holiest city in the Islamic faith, which is located in Saudi Arabia - not the rich little town where Bill Gates lives.