The vague memories I have regarding Ramadan involves tasty and mouthwatering food, which is funny considering that it’s a holiday centered around fasting.

But let me explain, there is nothing anything so comfy rather than the feeling of sitting down for a delicious meal at the end of a long fast with family and friends, community members and enjoying the favorite foods and different juices to drink.

That’s just a part of it, though. Ramadan is the holy month in the Islamic calendar in which the muslims observe fasting and abstaining from food and drink from dawn till dusk.

Ramadan: The Fundamentals

Ramadan usually lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the circumstances. Muslims practice one of the five pillars of Islam in this month which is Sawm, meaning fasting. We restrict ourselves from eating or drinking, not even water or coffee is allowed when you’re fasting. We begin the fast with a pre-morning meal called suhoor and break the fast with a delicious meal called iftar, which happens in the evening when the sun is about to set. Many muslims eat date first to break the fast as it is the Sunnah of Holy Prophet Muhammad.

Muslims also attempt to complete the Qur’an in the month of Ramadan, which we all muslims believe that it was revealed to the prophet in the month of Ramadan. We also participate in additional prayers called Taraweeh.

While fasting is a significant practice in Ramadan, it is not the only part. In fact, there are many muslims who are not able to fast due to deterioration of health conditions and other circumstances, but are able to participate in other components of the month that still tend to earn a lot of good deeds. For example, giving charity in Ramadan is another major part of this month as well.

Ramadan makes me feel closer to my loved ones, community even amid challenges 

More than 2 billion Muslims observed Ramadan in isolation due to a pandemic, away from the communities. As vaccination began to roll out in 2021, we were able to gather a little more close with our family and friends . this year with vaccination requirements in place and other guidelines, it feels just a little safer to venture out, attend mosque gatherings and engage in community based aspects of Ramadan.

Observing Ramadan during the height of the coronavirus pandemic was, to say the least, demoralizing and difficult. One of my favorite parts of the month is how much we get to unite and gather with our extended family, friends and the larger Muslim community. Praying and connecting to my faith is done more easily when I am doing it in a space with like-minded individuals, where we uplift and encourage each other.

Preparing and fasting in Ramadan during the height of coronavirus pandemic was pretty isolating and hard, as the month of Ramadan is all about getting together with family and observing the fasts and cooking for Iftar, praying and reading Qur’an with the whole community but as we had to stay away from social contact, that Ramadan was the pretty isolated and difficult one. Ramadan is a month of increased spirituality, building faith and connecting to God, but the more technical parts of fasting and getting use to fasting and adhering to a new eating and timings can be stressing and daunting.

Nada Hassanein, a health and environment reporter, said that the best part of the Ramadan was spending it with family and waking each other for suhoor and meditating in the silent hour, it feels peaceful and soothing.

Hassanein wishes that more people should realize that Ramadan is not just for refraining from eating and drinking but it is a opportunity to work on themselves and refraining from getting angry as it breaks the fast.\

Rasha Ali, a life and entertainment reporter, admitted that she is not the most excited person when Ramadan comes around: “Something about not eating or drinking all day doesn’t put me in the greatest of moods (I’m known for my hanger).”

But what she does enjoy about the month are the celebrations, gatherings and the community. “Fasting is made that much more rewarding when you’re able to break your fast with friends and family and exchange jokes across the table,” Ali said. “It’s also a time of reflection and with ‘gestures wildly at everything’ the entire world going up in flames, I’m looking forward to slowing down and being more intentional day to day.”

And so, as we start this holy month, I wish all my fellow Muslims and those observing Ramadan a beautiful time of reflection, faith, self-fulfillment, and the chance to spend time with their loved ones. I hope you find the comfort and peace you seek, and I hope we come out of this a little more healed.

Ramadan Mubarak!