CAIRO – Welcoming refugees to their city, Ottawa Muslims are putting final touches on Ramadan preparations to help Syrian families mark their first fasting month.

“We cannot deny that some of them will be homesick, thinking about those relatives they left behind,” Mohammed Mostefa, president of the Assunnah Muslims Association (AMA), told Ottawa Metro on Friday, June 3.

Mostefa said they are expecting bigger congregations during the month-long religious event, as many Syrian refugee families celebrate their first Ramadan in the city.

Around 100 Syrian refugees are expected to join in the prayers at the group’s community centre on Hunt Club Road.

That’s apart from the 700 people who usually attend the facility’s weekend Ramadan festivities.

“We are ready for that increase in the number,” said Mostefa.

Along with prayer preparations, AMA is also making Ramadan take-home baskets, which include bags of rice, cooking oil, meat, and tomato paste.

The charitable effort is done annually to help low-income congregants who can’t afford the Ramadan necessities.

This Ramadan has seen an increase in food and meal donations for this year’s Ramadan to provide for new Syrian refugees.

So far, 1,500 refugee families fleeing civil war in Syria have landed in Ottawa.

“You hear what they’re going through and being to extend that helping hand, it’s very rewarding,” Ali Binsilim, secretary of the Ottawa Muslim Association, said.

“You know you’re setting a good example as a Muslim Canadian.”

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur’an.

Many men perform i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), spending the last 10 days of the month exclusively in the mosque.