Excerpt:
Muslims are a small minority in the U.S., so it can be a challenge for some of the faithful to observe their religion in a society that doesn't follow the same rituals.
This is especially so during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, which this year falls on the hottest and longest days of the year. But some Washington-area Muslim Americans find that their employers do try to accommodate their needs during 30 days of fasting from dawn to dusk.
Sami Malek has been fasting from dawn to dusk since the start of Ramadan. As a waiter at a popular Middle Eastern restaurant and market, he is constantly surrounded by the sight and smell of food and drink. But that hasn't tempted the 23-year-old graduate student to deviate from his faith.