DAYTONA BEACH — Since April 12, Mariam Kashif has been leaving the comfort of her bed every morning well before the sun begins climbing above the horizon.
At 4 a.m. she's up and starting to cook breakfast for her husband and three children. At 5 a.m. she's pausing to pray, taking time to kneel down on the floor and praise God.
Once the morning sunlight starts to seep into her west Daytona Beach home, she and her family will begin their daily 14-hour fast. They'll abstain from all food and beverages, including water, until the sun starts setting at 8 p.m.
It's the annual ritual Kashif and her family commit to every year during Ramadan, a month-long holy observance adhered to by nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide.