The prayers that we offer Ramzan is not a month of dieting. It’s a month of bliss… of love, patience, sharing, sacrifice and blessing. We grew up experiencing that. Not stretching our hands towards our favourite food, running away from tempting smells, reciting holy Koran and spending time in remembrance of God. It is the month of repentance reminding one of how struggling poverty and starvation can be.
Ramzan memories are shiny with coins, fresh currencies and grain sacks. Giving away to the needy ones makes the month a fruitful, graceful and worthy one. Iftar meets happen throughout, taraweeh prayers every night, azaan from masjid and starry night when there is just Allah and us. Spiritual recharging as well as mental and physical detoxification happens for 30 days.
Fasting starts from waking up in the early hours for a quick bite and a sip of water, waiting for the call to prayer and we would break the fast with dates in hand at sunset. Mom would wake us all at 4 in the morning, or we would wake up for the delicious food. Me and my brothers would stuff up food like anything, leaving a tiny space so that our tummies won’t burst.
Even the little ones fast, from morning to afternoon saying that they fasted for a half day and when two days combine, it becomes one day of fasting. Being kids, evenings were handled by dad trying to distract our hunger by taking us for a ride even as we peep into the kitchen and smiling at mom’s progress.
The 30th day of the holy month pulls the curtains for celebrations. Days of smelling biriyani, new dress and togetherness where as nights smell of mehendi, cousins and happiness. Ramzan is not just for Muslims, it’s for everyone. A month of love, sharing and caring.
(Fathima Hakkim is an artist with an architecture degree who is struck by wanderlust)
