The way I see it is that the more associated you become with
things in your life the more involved you become in both the good stuffs and
the burdensome ones. I don’t mean to say that I became a Muslim by choice, but
I wish to continue to be one by my own consciousness and strong belief system,
but this topic is for another time, it was rather a passed-on thing for me. And
now that I begin to realize, Islam is the most generous gift given to me at a
time when I didn’t even know what gifts were, and one of the reasons is that it
comes with a lot things for Muslims to get involved in. Christianity, Buddhism,
Jewism they all certainly have such religious events to keep the flow of
beliefs and faith continuous amongst the believers. So does Islam. It has
practices both performable and rejoicing. Ramadan is one of the many refreshing
periods in Islamic calendar that once in a year arrives and spread joys for the
Muslim community all over the world – that’s another good thing about it, it’s
globally union. Such a month is to be cherished, treasured, and utilized the
most out of because it’s one that offers limitlessly. To particularly and
wholesomely define the perks this month carries, it’d be best to categorize them
with each of their joys they offer.
The moon; the wishes
Though each new moon marks a beginning of a new Islamic
month, there are two in particular that stand out: Ramadan’s and Shawal’s. Since
it’s been long waited for, Ramadan is on everyone’s radar and everyone starts
counting days until the month approaches. The fasting, both prematurely
overwhelming and scary too, the shopping, the preparations, the extended
prayers, the rush of Islamic shows on TV, the particular Ramadan dishes
(pakoras. Samosas), and of course the annoying and lazy Sehri and the
‘Allah-o-Akbar’ awaited Iftari, all of it make the look-out for the moon of
Ramadan as much exciting if not more, as the one for chotti Eid. And once the while, thinly curved, and hard to spot
moon appears it opens way for a bunch of headline news and a bigger bunch of
wishes from all the family, relatives and friends. This Ramadan is particular,
the wishes bought my heart for they made me feel home and surrounded in a city
so distant from home. Where wishes were lost somewhere from my homies, new ones
kept arriving from the people around. To share is to love, this I felt in real time this time around.
The First Days, They Are Always New
The first Sehri, the first Iftari, although same every year,
feels new every time. The built-on excitement, the enthusiastic commitment to
be a true Muslim (if only for a month), the over-eating from the fear starving
the next day (hungry and thirsty the next day anyways), the idea of not moving
even as to save energy, and of course the fresh memes for this year’s Ramadan,
they are always new, always fresh and always something instantly familiar yet
feelingly refreshing. And so it continues in the coming days – the
how-is-fasting-going greetings, the annoying last minutes when the Moazzan (prayer-caller)
won’t show up for the Azaan, the weather analysis, the last-year-references to
compare them to this year, the opening of fridges and avoiding the water and
the fruits, the counting of hours, the binging of movies nonstop, the holistic
feeling of holding fasts where no one can approach you, and of course the
all-of-a-sudden regular, mosque-ly prayers. The chants go on and so does the
fun as it doubles with each renewing Ishra’s (10 days period).
Life After Iftari
If anything’s to live for it’s the atmosphere that collectively
gathers after the Iftari. It’s crowded, happy because no one’s hungry anymore,
the laddo frames being brought to the small circles, the cheers and shouts of
the laddo games, the rush at deserts shops, the fresh air of night that bring
people out shopping for Eid – it’s all electrifying and encouraging for people
to go out and sync with each other, to go out and cherish this Holy month. It’s
a whole another life and one quite opposite to the dull, angry one before the
Azaan. Where the hours seem unbearingly long and torturesome before the Iftari,
they’re not quite graspable after. It takes no realizingly long time to move
from this Iftari to the next Sehri, but the hours in between are worth fasting
for. I know some of you might be thinking that this guy is only there to take
jest out of, otherwise, such a holy month – but holy doesn’t mean, let me
reply, that you get to have the fun; it’s a sweetener that’s all. I enjoy the
vibe that I feel after the 8pm and the cool temperature of the night that is so
pleasing against the scorching hot noon and early evening. Especially towards
the second half of the Ramadan where people are more out and shopping for Eid,
roaming the bazaars, laughing, talking constantly, accompanying each other and
getting ready for something joyous. And if you find a gaze of a pretty girl
while you’re out on those streets, your night is just scored.
The Blessing being Poured
But what sets this month’s significance is the stream of blessings
from Allah. It is said the Satan is chained for the whole month while the doors
of the heaven are opened which is to state that it is the months for the
Muslims to cherish with prayers, kindness, gratitude and prohibition. It is
also the month that brings the whole Muslim community closer to Islam so
effortlessly. Because we all feel so naturally drawn to it. However, as
discussed before, in the hassle and bustle of this month, we may take these
heartedly opportunities for granted and overlook the essence of it. It is a
month to get closer to God and His holy prophet Muhammad pbuh. Our lives
should, as closely as possible, imitate the life of His prophet because in his
lifestyle we would find all the right answers. The formula is simple: study the
Quran and follow the footsteps of Muhammad pbuh on whom the holy book was
bestowed. And during these 30 days we have a great chance to really feel the
Muslims in ourselves and let Islam and its teaching emit from ourselves. We are
given a chance of forgiveness, of reaching the endless blessings, and chances
to save ourselves from the ultimate punishment that Hell is. So let’s take the
essence of this month for granted and explore more Islam and ourselves that
would help us lead a true life until the next time this holy month knocks at
our door.
The Big Prize: Eid-ul-Fitr
One of the reasons we wait so anticipatedly for this,=month
is because we know that after these 30 days we would have the three, or more,
days of Eid. Eid where I can confidently say that people come together and
spread love, where angels rejoice in the skies to see humans really be humans,
where the love smiles on all of us Muslims and where we get a closer that
before and appreciate our differences and let go of all the hate. It is bright,
new, and happy. This occasion is happy, like really, really happy. New cloths,
toy guns, pretty faces, happy faces, hugs and love all around – honestly, what
ELSE could one ask for? There is a reason I, and all the Muslims, feel so proud
about Islam because it has made us better humans, better versions of ourselves.
If anything, this event is a blast, every year every time!
6.5.2018 10.15 am