精美英文欣赏:美国的斋月

Ramadan in America

美国的斋月

America is a nation of 292 million people.

美国有2.92亿人口。

There are estimates¹ that 6 million of them are Muslim.

据估计，其中有600万人是伊斯兰教徒。

The government does not ask people their religion,so it has no official numbers.

由于政府没有要求民众提供其宗教信仰的信息，所以该方面也没有官方数据。

But Islam is often described as a fast growing religion in the United States.

然而伊斯兰教常被认为是美国国内一个增长迅速的宗教。

Media around the country have stories about activities at local Islamic centers during Ramadan.

在斋月期，全国各地的媒体都对当地伊斯兰中心的活动有所报道。

In Maryland, the Al-Rahmah Mosque² in the Baltimore area uses its basketball court as a dining room.

在马里兰，巴尔的摩区的仁爱清真寺把其篮球场作为餐厅。

The Baltimore Sun newspaper says 200 to 300 people gather for their evening meal.

《巴尔的摩太阳报》称有200至300人聚在一起共用晚餐。

Muslims are supposed to avoid food and drink from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan.

斋月期间，伊斯兰教徒不会在白天里饮食。

In the central United States,the director of the Islamic Center of Lawrence, Kansas,says as many as 200 people go to daily prayers during a normal month.

《劳伦斯日报》探访了位于美国中部堪萨斯州劳伦斯镇的伊斯兰中心，该中心的负责人称，平时每天都有200多人过来祷告，

But he tells the Journal-World newspaper that the number can grow to 500 during Ramadan.

但在斋月期间每天过来祷告的人数可增至500人。

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

斋月是伊斯兰教历中的第9个月。

To Muslims, it was the month in the year 610 when the Prophet³ Mohamed received the knowledge from God that would become the holy book, the Koran.

对于伊斯兰教徒来说，公元610年伊斯兰教历9月，先知默罕默德从上帝那里获得真知，这些知识后来就汇集成圣书《古兰经》。

Many Muslims give presents to children during Ramadan.

很多伊斯兰教徒在斋月期间会给孩子们送礼物。

This year, a company in the state of Michigan is selling a number of toys designed for Muslim children.

今年，密歇根州的一家公司专为穆斯林小孩设计了多种玩具。

One of the most popular is a doll called Razanne.

其中，名为拉赞的娃娃是最受欢迎的玩具之一。

Razanne looks different from Barbies and other dolls for girls.

拉赞娃娃看起来与芭比娃娃或其他女孩子的玩具都不同，

All seven dolls in the series wear the traditional Muslim head covering.

整个系列的7个玩偶都戴着传统的头巾，

Their arms and legs are also covered.

四肢也都包裹严实。

One is a schoolgirl. Another is a teacher.

其中一个玩偶是一位女学生，另一个是一名老师。

Ammar Saadeh established NoorArt,the company that created the Razanne doll.Mister⁴ Saadeh says the doll provides a good example for Muslim girls.

制造出拉赞玩具的是努尔工艺公司，该公司的创始人阿玛尔?萨阿德先生说，拉赞玩具给穆斯林女孩们提供了一个良好模范。

There is also a Praying Razanne.

另外还有一款作祈祷状的拉赞娃娃，

It comes with a prayer rug⁵ and what the company describes as a small Koran-like book.

此款娃娃配有一张祈祷垫和一本小书，该公司称之为《古兰经》。

1 estimates   

估计

参考例句：

• Unofficial estimates put the figure at over two million. 非官方的估计数字为200万以上。
• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 prophet   

n.预言家，先知，提倡者

参考例句：

• A prophet made a prophecy that the kingdom would fall.一位预言家预言那个王国将要灭亡。
• The pity is that you are not a prophet.可惜你不能未卜先知。

4 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

5 rug   

n.毯子，地毯，旅行毯

参考例句：

• The rug can double up.这条地毯能卷起来。
• It will be more beautiful if you work some blue into the rug.如果你再织些蓝色的图案，这毯子会更好看。