Groton - At the close of the second week of Ramadan, Yasser and Aya Faraj gathered among friends and family on Sunday when they broke the fast at the Islamic Center of New London.

Raised in Syria, they've observed Ramadan since they were children, but when their family immigrated to the United States three years ago, a vast array of changes awaited them.

Neither of them had a command of the English language but were forced to learn it by communicating with their hands, drawing pictures and receiving the help of gracious friends and teachers.

Learning the language may have been the most daunting part of their transition, but Aya Faraj, 16, said being the only Muslim girl at her Stonington middle school was also an adjustment.

"They never saw a Muslim before, and when I used to wear more traditional clothes like all black, I felt like I was a monster between them," she said. "The way I look is their first impression, but after getting to know me it was different."

Yasser Faraj, 19, said his college roommates in New York, who were not Muslim, made attempts to fast with him during Ramadan, when he and Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset for 30 days. NOTE: The period of fasting was incorrect in the original version of this story.

"They had never lived with someone who was breaking the fast, they were very open minded and were interested," Faraj said. "One of them was fasting with me to try it, even though he slept for most of the day."

Observers also refrain from consuming liquids, chewing gum, smoking cigarettes, engaging in sexual behavior or using bad language. The act of fasting, they explained, is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity while obeying God's commandments.

For another man, fasting during Ramadan a relatively new concept.

Avery Awwa, 27, said he chose to accept Islam in stages, despite being raised in a Syrian family that practices Islam.

This is the second year he has observed Ramadan.

"It's the philosophy behind it. I think it's very respectable and you admire it because it requires strict discipline," said Awwa, who is from Westbrook. "The main message behind Ramadan is that the prophet wanted the people to relate to the poor and to build compassion for others, to understand the idea of hunger to the point where it's painful.

"I don't believe that anyone should close themselves off to the idea of fasting," he said. "It's not a boastful act, it's really to maintain a higher spirituality."

After the call to prayer on Sunday, observers break the daylong fast by eating a date.

On Sunday evening, those at the Groton mosque taking part in Iftar, the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan, were from countries such as India, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Syria.

Based on the lunar cycle, the Islamic year has 12 months. The last day of fasting is on Aug. 29 and the following day is marked by communal prayers called "Eid al-Fitr," or Feast of the Fast-Breaking.

Aysha Mansour of Mystic said those who abstain from bad language, control their temper and refrain from indulging in "the evils of everyday life" during Ramadan, will finish the observance with an improved state of mind.

"When you come out of Ramadan you're supposed to be a better person overall," she said. "The main reason most people look forward to Ramadan is because it is the month of blessings and extra rewards. It's kind of like an encouraging month and from it, you try to keep it going through the rest of the year."

Mansour, 21, said that growing up, she never found it awkward to explain why she was fasting to her friends.

"I think that most of them are educated enough to understand why I'm fasting. I mean, Christians and Jews fast too, it's not really anything new, but I think they're allowed to consume tea or liquids," Mansour said. "The only thing is that we fast from sunrise to sunset. No water, food, nothing, that's the only thing that kind of boggles their minds."

She said that younger children, like her five brothers and sisters, did not immediately start Ramadan by fasting for the entire day.

"Before we even get to this point, they'll fast half a day and get used to it and progressively start fasting every other day. For the younger kids it's not mandatory that they fast, but they encourage it," she said. "Knowing that you are commanded by God helps get you through."

j.hanckel@theday.com