Iftaar. Suhoor. Dhikr. Salah.
These are just some of the spiritual traditions that encompass the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Starting March 1st this year, when the waxing crescent of the moon emerges (this is because Islam follows the lunar calendar rather than the Cartesian one), Muslims around the world fast away from food as well as water and bad habits from sunrise to sunset.
For most, Ramadan is a time for introspection, self-improvement, family, and good food. Many look forward to Ramadan all year, and some even begin preparing their hearts for purification 6 months before the holy month arrives.
Think for a moment, however, about the contrast of Ramadan in areas like the US or Saudi Arabia with what Gaza is going through right now. Table spreads of decadent food replaced instead with a line of hungry families clamoring for rations. Decorated houses with lanterns and signs instead surrounded by rubble and a reminder of the brutal destruction that plagued the land just weeks before.
Yes, Ramadan is here, but it’s not the same.
Many believe or see Ramadan as an opportunity to feel what others sometimes don’t have, and this year, that belief is more prevalent than ever. Our 12-hour fast is sometimes an undermined reality for a lot of starving Palestinians.
Yet, the devout worshippers embrace this month as a sign of hope. Clinging tightly to the knowledge that their God is closer to them than ever this month, Gazans are praying for peace and tranquility, wishing away the impending danger that the oppressive forces that occupy their region pose to them. Citizens are hanging makeshift fairy lights on lampposts and weathered buildings, gathering after iftar to celebrate.
Others are praying for those they have lost. Breaking your fast is meant to be done together, with most if not all members of your family. However, a lot of elderly women and children have no one to accompany them in this particularly special meal.
Yes, Ramadan is not the same. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that it’s still a month of blessings. Of benevolence. Of beauty.
