Ramadan Reflections
I was married barely a couple of months back in 2011 when I experienced my first Ramadan. My husband and I were in the US at the time and I still remember eating cold pizza from the night before for sehri in our hotel room. The first few days were spent there before we returned to Ireland.
My husband prayed taraweeh (special night prayers during the month of Ramadan) in the mosque and one day I decided to go with him too. Bad idea. I was not prepared for what taraweeh encompassed! The long prayers of which I could barely understand anything, and the sound of women sobbing during prayers completely overwhelmed me.
I have come to realise that Islam is a process; it is a journey personal to a believer and must be undertaken at one's own pace.
What baffled me most was that I, an avid foodie who needs to eat and drink very often, managed to fast without feeling very hungry and thirsty and that was accomplishment enough for me. I had only ever read and seen on TV in India what iftars entailed and I was excited to prepare our small iftars for my husband and myself. I thought it was pretty much compulsory to have Roohafza milk at iftar so I promptly bought a bottle from the desi store. Imagine my utter surprise and disappointment to find out my husband had no taste for the pink beverage and it was never served in his house! Talk about stereotypes! Guilty as charged.
Since that first year, much has changed. 2012 and 2013 were a marked improvement in my experience of going to the masjid and thanks to some lovely friends we had many shared iftars making it truly a memorable time for me. Feeding a fasting person is highly appreciated and rewarded in Islam and community iftars are encouraged.
The next few years were spent barely fasting due to back to back pregnancies and caring for babies. This year, 2018, has again been one of renewed intention and remembering what the purpose of Ramadan and fasting is-to attain piety. I am glad to be back on track and making this time count. The hours are long but the blessings are many and worth it.
I was married barely a couple of months back in 2011 when I experienced my first Ramadan. My husband and I were in the US at the time and I still remember eating cold pizza from the night before for sehri in our hotel room. The first few days were spent there before we returned to Ireland.
My husband prayed taraweeh (special night prayers during the month of Ramadan) in the mosque and one day I decided to go with him too. Bad idea. I was not prepared for what taraweeh encompassed! The long prayers of which I could barely understand anything, and the sound of women sobbing during prayers completely overwhelmed me.
I have come to realise that Islam is a process; it is a journey personal to a believer and must be undertaken at one's own pace.
What baffled me most was that I, an avid foodie who needs to eat and drink very often, managed to fast without feeling very hungry and thirsty and that was accomplishment enough for me. I had only ever read and seen on TV in India what iftars entailed and I was excited to prepare our small iftars for my husband and myself. I thought it was pretty much compulsory to have Roohafza milk at iftar so I promptly bought a bottle from the desi store. Imagine my utter surprise and disappointment to find out my husband had no taste for the pink beverage and it was never served in his house! Talk about stereotypes! Guilty as charged.
Since that first year, much has changed. 2012 and 2013 were a marked improvement in my experience of going to the masjid and thanks to some lovely friends we had many shared iftars making it truly a memorable time for me. Feeding a fasting person is highly appreciated and rewarded in Islam and community iftars are encouraged.
The next few years were spent barely fasting due to back to back pregnancies and caring for babies. This year, 2018, has again been one of renewed intention and remembering what the purpose of Ramadan and fasting is-to attain piety. I am glad to be back on track and making this time count. The hours are long but the blessings are many and worth it.
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