Recently, the holy month of Ramadan, a time of appreciation and respect for oneself in the religion of Islam ended. As a Muslim, this month has a lot of impact on my life. There is a lot of preparation that goes into Ramadan that many don’t know actually helps an average daily routine.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan, as I mentioned, is the holiest calendar month in the Islamic religion. It is a month of prayer, forgiveness, and a time where family and friends spend valuable time. It lasts for around 30 days, and for each day a fast is completed. Muslims awaken before sunrise to pray and have a bite to eat and something to drink. We then refrain from drinking or eating until sunset. We then break our fast and begin the process or the next day. The goal is to cleanse the soul, in a mental aspect and a physical aspect.
Ramadan 2021
It is pretty sad to say that this Ramadan had been the second one during the COVID-19 Pandemic, which shows how fast it went by. This month is meant to be spent with loved ones and people you hold close to you. It was pretty difficult to see a lot of family during this time. The positive I took out of that is to appreciate the ones you hold close to your heart and the ones who show love to you. When I did see family, I felt a lot closer to them than I had ever before.
The food is also something that plays a large role in Ramadan. It usually includes traditional Arab dishes, such as Melfoof, Makulba, and many more delicious traditional dishes. These plates are plates I have been eating since I was a young kid, but they have a different taste to me during this special month, especially when your grandmas put extra love in these meals.
First 10 Days and Last 10 Days
One of the hardest parts of Ramadan comes in the first ten days. We are faced with multiple challenges, such as Burger King commercials or Coca Cola ads in front of our face. These are the type of moments that cause you to grow firm within yourself, as you begin to understand there is more worth than having a sense of satisfaction to eat or drink.
The last ten days of Ramadan are the most important days of the year. This is the time of the month where you really put all of your heart into practicing your religion. It represents the time where Islam began, and it’s the period of time where you will be the closest you’ve ever been with God.
Ramadan is a month where I feel like I can let go of all my stress and weight carrying on my shoulders from this short life. Many people view it as something they can never do, but I view it as something that I look forward to doing.
