Ramadan (or Ramzan) is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, marked by mandatory dawn-to-sunset fasting for healthy adult Muslims who have reached puberty to foster piety, self-discipline, and gratitude.
Exemptions from fasting during Ramadan are granted to individuals who, due to health reasons or excessive hardship, are unable to fast.
It also commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and is a time for increased devotion, prayer, charity (Zakat), and spiritual purification.
I spend more time with my family during Ramadan. Ramadan brings my family closer as we have iftar (breaking the fast) and suhoor (eating before fasting) together. On usual days, I stay after every other day and eat lunch and dinner by myself, but it changes during Ramadan. I reflect on myself often. During Ramadan, I sleep early and wake up on time to ensure I eat and drink enough water; I prioritize my health over school work, which is rare for me.
This holy month is just not about fasting and praying; it is also about helping others. Charity is not always about giving money, in my opinion ; it’s about helping others in need.
Recently, I was in Pakistan buying food for iftar, and I saw two little girls stopping to ask the price of the food. They started to leave after knowing the price, so I stopped them and bought it for them. It made me really happy knowing that they would have the food they wanted for iftar.
Iftar food made at my house includes dates, juices, fruit salad, vegetable or chicken rolls, potato or chicken samosa, and chicken puffed pie known as kachauri. We give iftar food to neighbors, close friends, and relatives. After iftar, my family eats dinner together and goes on to pray taraweeh. Taraweeh are special, recommended (Sunnah) nightly prayers performed during Ramadan after Isha, the fifth mandatory daily prayer in Islam, usually in congregation. Praying taraweeh with my mother and in congregation warms my heart. After praying, I usually like to go out with my friends to get some sweet food or drinks.
Ramadan is my favorite part of the year because I am able to make memories and become a better muslim.
However, fasting is rigorous for me due to academics, extracurriculars, and after-school activities. Being in a habit of the usual routine, I still reach for my water bottle or gum whenever I am tired. I try to follow a routine while fasting to not tire myself out by doing hard assignments after Iftar or after suhoor.
I have not been staying after school unless it is required. AHS has a big community of muslim students and staff. Our school supports the muslim students fasting by giving them Ramadan passes during lunch to the library. During my lunch, I usually pray with my friends in the prayer room provided in the library, and do assignments till lunch is over. Ramadan with friends is really fun and peaceful. I have a lot of non-Muslim friends, and to this day, I still get questioned. “Not even water?” My friends during the day will be sending reels about tasty food and talking about trying new foods. The Muslim Student Association holds iftar, which I attend with my friends.
Sometimes, when we are free, we sit together to read the Quran and learn more about history. As friends, we invite each other for iftar at our homes and introduce them to our family. Recently, my friend’s mom called me and said, “You are coming to my house to break your fast and bring your bag here. You can go to school from here.”
Ramadan makes me grateful for the blessings and things that I am provided. I have lived in Pakistan for thirteen years. Ramadan is different in Pakistan, as schools close early to accommodate students and staff. Shops and markets are open late at night as life shifts to after iftar. Charity and social welfare initiatives include doing a big iftar for communities. Eating, drinking, or smoking during the day is forbidden and illegal in some places.
The final night of Ramadan for me is marked by buying bangles, applying henna, and bustling markets as the moon is sighted to announce Eid.
Ramadan concludes with the joyous three-day festival of Eid al-Fitr, following the sighting of the new crescent moon. When the moon is sighted, I like to call my friends and discuss the type of henna we should get together.
Eid is a celebration for Muslims, and I really love Eid. It marks the end of a month of fasting, intense prayer, and spiritual reflection, characterized by communal prayers, charity, gift-giving, and family.
While the end of the fasting month brings a sense of sadness at the departure of a sacred time, it is met with immense gratitude for the opportunity to have experienced it.
