Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. For Muslims, the month is about fasting, prayer and community, a time most Muslims look forward to each year. For some New Yorkers, this Ramadan is being marked by a somber tone as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

With dates piled high, this halal grocery store in Bay Ridge is gearing up for Ramadan when the world’s estimated 1.8 billion Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

Ramadan is a time of self-reflection, prayer and spirituality, including for those New Yorkers who will be gathering for special evening prayer services all month long at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge and other mosques in the city.

The holy month is taking place in the shadow of war. It is the first Ramadan since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.

Some community members say they’re feeling less celebratory this year because of what the United Nations describes as a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“The Muslim community is a very interconnected community all across the world. It’s a very difficult Ramadan for us, and we are definitely feeling for our brothers and sisters there, who are going to be genuinely starving,” said Mohamed Zin, of Egyptian descent, who will be fasting for Ramadan. “This month we are fasting, but we can always break our fast, however they won’t be able to do that this year in a proper fashion. We will be sending our prayers and making duaa [Arabic word for prayer] for them.”

Thikra Mohammad, 20, is of Palestinian heritage (from a small village in Ramallah) and said she will be fasting this Ramadan with her prayers focused on Gaza.

“It’s always a celebration, but this year, we’re not celebrating anything, especially with everything going on back home,” Mohammad said. “We are going to be praying for a cease-fire and we’re going to be praying for the people that have passed away. For them, for their families.”

President Biden was hoping for a cease-fire in Gaza by Ramadan. Talks remain at a standstill. The United States has started to air drop in humanitarian aid to help the people of Gaza, and President Biden, in his recent State of the Union address, said the U.S. military is planning to build an emergency pier off of the Gaza coast, to get more aid in.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict — according to the Hamas-run Gazan health ministry. Some community members said they’re extending their prayers for those who’ve lost their lives.

Adnanne El Elmali, originally from Morocco, was buying dates in preparation for Ramadan, and opened up to us about how he’s feeling this year.

“I feel very bad about Gaza,” El Elmali said. “We’re praying with the people every day dying, and I feel very bad, because I see a lot of kids dying every day, so we try to stop this war [through prayer].”

Prayers for peace, with seemingly no end in sight for a conflict that’s more than five months old.

Ramadan is also about giving back and donating to charity, so fundraising efforts may increase this month for Gaza.

The holy month begins Sunday night, so the first day of fasting will be Monday.