What is the purpose of Ramadan?

To be completely honest, all I ever told people growing up was that we fast in order to understand how the poor people feel and to grow more thankful for what we have. While I still feel like that's a cool component of it, the purpose of Ramadan is so much bigger than that; it is about piety and being God-conscious. When you're fasting all day, you know it all day. You're physically waiting for the sun to set and you're always aware that you can't touch that delicious slice of chocolate cake left over from last night. So when you are aware of the fact that you are fasting, you tend to remember the reasons. You remember God the Almighty, and you think about how to best spend your hours during this short special month.

How should we be spending our time? Well, Ramadan is about focusing your attention towards God and bettering your relationship with Him, while also working towards becoming a better person. The best way to do this is by avoiding things which are forbidden during the day, reading the Quran, and praying.

Avoiding things which are forbidden… seems easy enough, right? It should be even easier this month while the shayateen are locked up…

But because we're so “stuck in our ways,” we find it harder to change.

Personally, because I'm 100% aware that I'm fasting throughout the day, I think thrice about everything I say before I say it. The days preceding the holy month, my Twitter and Facebook feeds were filled with exciting news about what benefits will come in the coming three weeks. Therefore I made a commitment to myself and to Allah (SWT) before Ramadan began; I vowed to spend this Ramadan doing as much as I possibly could to be the best Muslim I could be. Ideally, this should be the goal every year but for some reason it hasn’t been. However, this year is different for me.

For the past three years, I spent my Ramadan days in resident assistant (RA) training from around 8am until 9pm. Lectures, activities, and programming completely consumed my time. During the meal times, I would make a quick trip to my room for prayers, and most evenings I would drive to the nearest Masjid for Taraweeh, but I really never felt that my Ramadan was spent as it should have been, despite my bosses being more than willing to accommodate for me. I had no doubt in my mind that this year was going to be different. Although I'm in training still, I find that I'm reading the Quran more than ever before, praying on time, waking up for suhoor, and enjoying every minute of all of these activities and rituals.

Some friends from my beautiful staff; some of the many RAs that love and support me, and accidentally make funny faces for the camera at the wrong times.

Potluck picnic iftar by the river? YES.

During training, I'm surrounded by friends who are not Muslim, and many of whom are not at all familiar with the reasoning behind the practice. This has become such a great opportunity to teach people about Islam. Especially because RAs tend to be very open-minded and well-cultured (we're basically trained to be), I've found that they remind me to tuck my hair back under my scarf, ask me if I've prayed, or even join in and ask to fast with me for a day. And as I'm explaining to people the reasoning behind fasting and the how beneficial the practice is, I find myself growing more comfortable and fond of Islam and being Muslim. I'm not even embarrassed to say that anymore because I feel like I'm a positive representation of Islam because of how open I am in teaching and inviting others. I don't think that I'm an amazing Muslim, but I do think that because of my unique upbringing (my mom is non-Muslim and my dad is Muslim) and my experiences in a diverse university thus far have each brought me qualities that I think have really helped me represent the religion in a way that people who are unfamiliar can relate to. I have so much support from the RAs and from my close friends and family that I know I can bring Islam to any table and be a lot more confident with how well it has nourished me. This is more than I could have said two weeks ago. I wish I had spent more time with our deen (islamic religion) earlier.

We're a little more than halfway through Ramadan, and I'm not even sure if this little story of mine is too relevant, but I do know that I've become a better person in the past weeks because I've strengthened my faith and embraced all of the qualities that make me a Muslim.

Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah.

Anisah Khan

Today went by so fast, yet so slow at the same time. The days usually go by slowly during Ramadan, especially since I was awake for most of the night before praying Qiyam (voluntary night prayers) at the All Dulles Area Muslim Center. It was an interesting experience as I got to meet with and stand quietly in prayer next to 200 other American Muslim teenagers who are seeking reflection and enlightenment during the blessed month.

We started the night off with a lecture on the virtue and benefit of du’aa (supplicating to God), of why young Muslims are not involved in changing the world, and why they do not have a dream they hope to achieve. The lecture addressed and made me realize how inactive today’s youth is, compared to previous generations of youth. We then prayed the Qiyam prayers, which were led by several of the young Muslims who attended. During the year, we get too concerned with other worldly matters and often forget the beauty of praying in complete serenity. However in Ramadan, the strain on one’s hunger and desires makes one forget about the material things and think about one’s relationship with God. After that, we gathered to eat our final meal before the start of the next day of fasting, and just like that, I was exempted from food, water and desire for the next 16 hours.

I woke up the next morning (I should say afternoon) at 1:30 pm, feeling as though I had never slept in the first place. I continued through the day, jealous at all the customers at the sandwich shops we drove by. I decided to take my mind off of things by reading my daily portion of the Quran that I read every day throughout the month of Ramadan. The Quran has a way of making one fascinated with its stories and lessons. I got home just in time for iftar (breaking of the fast) and indulged into all the food that was prepared. It feels really satisfying when you eat a meal when you are hungry for such a long time. 

The experience of today has made me think of the countless blessings that God has given us, such as food and water. We take these luxuries for granted, especially in the West and we do not think of the people who would do anything for that crust that we threw away, or that vegetable we didn’t like. I thank God for blessing me by giving me a chance to fast so that I may realize all of His gifts to us.

Omar Auda

I have come to look forward to Saturdays during the month of Ramadan because of the Qiyam (mid-night prayer)  that we have at my mosque the Islamic Center of Southern California. I immigrated to the United States with my family in 1991 and as my parents tell me that was the first mosque they found and the only mosque in the area so they started going there. Over 20 years later, I am still going there and I have made many friends who I have grown up with in that Islamic Center. Interestingly, my brother's marriage was carried out in the center by the one and only Dr.H (aka Dr. Maher Hathout).

A couple of years back the Islamic Center started this tradition of holding Qiyams on the weekends. They have always been held on Saturdays (and at some point there was a Friday one as well). It is great to see that there are people of all age groups, races, and genders that are coming together in the Center from Iftar (breaking of fast) until the morning sunrise. For me, the Center feels most alive during Qiyam.

Today, a couple of my mom’s friends were getting together for a big iftar at the Center so I was helping my mom gather and prepare the things that we were assigned to cook. It is amazing how before Ramadan, I was worried that the days were going to be so long because we don’t break for iftar until nearly eight o'clock in the evening, but the days go by real quick. I was applying for jobs (the life of a graduate), trying to see which Obama volunteer event I will be able to go to next. So, when you start working on different tasks you forget the fact that you are not eating and you are focused on the day. After which I got ready, and left to the mosque. My mom and I arrived at the mosque before sundown, and it turned out that the mosque was already packed because it was a weekend, especially a Saturday.

Iftar was great but what I enjoyed the most about that day was seeing the people that grew up in my community that I had not seen for months or even possibly years. It was amazing to see how time had passed and how the new youth group is growing up. During the Qiyams we extend the taraweeh (supplementary prayers) for those who want to stay and do the 20 rakaa’s and shafaa and witr. In between, there is also discussion of different Qur’anic issues by Dr. Saleh Kholaki who has become synonymous with Ramadan at the Islamic Center, he is a really nice guy if any of you are ever out here at the Center for Ramadan or anytime. I always think that I am not going to make it through all of Qiyam but alhamduallah, you get a spiritual energy during Ramadan that you usually don’t have and alhamduallah I made it till Fajr then I went home and passed out. I have done Ramadan many different countries but there is just a different flavor to having Ramadan in the U.S. and especially at the Islamic Center of Southern California.

Abeer Gaber

It is now the 15^th day of Ramadan and we are half way through this blessed month. For me, Ramadan has always seemed to pass by quickly. Every year I go into Ramadan hoping to make it better than the last one but I realized that in order for me to achieve my goals during the month, such as purifying my intentions, praying on time, and getting up for suhoor (pre-dawn breakfast), I need to prepare myself throughout the year – and sleep earlier. Building consistency through the year and having that translate into Ramadan requires a great amount of determination, which I am working on.

Now that I am half way through the month, I look back and see a lot of excitement. From spending the first few days of Ramadan with my grandparents to meeting up with fellow interns and past Muslim Public Affairs Council summit delegates for iftars, my Ramadan has been really busy – which is new for me since I usually spend it with my family at home.

My day started out as usual, however I wasn’t able to get up for suhoor because I had slept so late the night before. Eating before I go to sleep has become a normal occurrence for me this Ramadan because I end up sleeping so late every night due to the way things have worked out these past few weeks. It is a Friday morning and two Fridays have already passed since Ramadan began. Since it is Friday during the holy month of Ramadan, my local mosque, the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center seems to be especially busy and much livelier than I’ve seen. I’ve been able to attend taraweh almost every night; each night I go to ADAMS I, feel like our community becomes closer and closer and that there is a sense of belonging. ADAMS Center has been my mosque since the main center in Sterling, Virginia was built in the early 2000s. I can proudly say that I can really relate to the people at Adams, especially the imams. The progressive way of thinking and the smoothly conducted operations at ADAMS has led to its continued success and influence within not just the American Muslim community but also the interfaith community. 

On the night of the 15th, my fellow interns and I were invited to Ahmed and Omar Auda’s house, who are also interning at MPAC. Their home is in Annapolis, Maryland and the location is absolutely beautiful. They had told me beforehand there was some water near their house but it wasn’t nearly what I was expecting. There is a body of water called Weems Creek behind the house in which people go boating and fishing. We played some football and then went down to the dock to try out Ahmed’s fishing rods. I have had prior experience with fishing from my trips back home to Boston and Maine with cousins, so I kind of knew what I was doing. Being near the water and casting my line into the creek reminded me so much of Maine, where fishing was an everyday thing for us. Sadly, none of us caught a single fish but we did reel in a leaf and part of a shell…

After watching our fellow interns Ahmed and Alia go into the water in the kayak, I was able to just take in the serene scenery around us; it felt peaceful. One of the highlights of the night though was when Ahmed got pushed into the water by Alia. She got her payback for when Ahmed purposely tried to flip over the kayak while they were in the water. Poor guy had no idea it was coming. I too was able to go in the kayak with Omar and it was fun, although I did make him do most of paddling while I recorded a video. It was nice just being able to spend time with the people I see almost every day in the office, when we are all busy and working together on projects. Being able to hangout without worrying about work was nice and definitely relaxing. 

After a couple hours of hanging out near and around the water, we had our iftar outside on the porch and the food was amazing. Ahmed’s mom had made Canadian style salmon. It was delicious and definitely different from the way my mom cooks fish. We were all stuffed and I couldn’t move for a few minutes but we had the chance to sit outside and I could tell everyone had a really good time, even though we were only there for a few hours.

I’ve been blessed to be able to meet such good people this past summer. I owe it all to my internship at MPAC, which has given me the opportunity to meet and spend time with amazing people. I realized I was half way through Ramadan and my day felt the same as any other day, until I reached the Auda’s. This Ramadan I have realized the great importance of spending time with one another. Ramadan is about cherishing one another and having a good time, along with everything else we do with regards to saying our prayers and bettering ourselves. You really get to know who you are the more you spend time with others, especially during a special and blessed month like Ramadan.

Jawaad Ali

Qur’an. Namaz. Samosas. Khajoor. Zakat. Pakoras. Taraweeh. Suhoor.

Ramadan.

I grew up watching my parents fast every year, and then my sister started too. I never really had an appetite for eating as a child, so it seemed as if everyone in the family was in on the fun of not eating all day besides me. So, one day, without telling my mom I decided I wouldn’t eat all day either. Seemed like a good idea, until my mom made me lunch and I kind of just stared at it blankly. She got very upset, sat me down, and started explaining the meaning of Ramadan to me, and why no one ate until sunset. This just made me more excited to take part in the “festival” (that’s what I called it–festival); obligingly my family decided to let me fast one day, just so I could get a feel for it.

Over theyears, it’s become more than just a month of abstaining from eating all day, it has become about spiritual enlightenment, about repentance, about forgiveness–above all, it has become about finding who I am when I’m not plugged-in to the matrix of this world. Lately, however, it seems like the days are flying by and before I know it, Ramadan is almost over. It’s had me wondering if this is what it will be like as I grow older–if the days will continue to fly by and I won’t really get the chance to savor each day as I did when I was younger. Or perhaps I’ll just have to find a way of slowing it down myself.

Speaking of savoring, Ramadan is also one of my favorite months because the menu is far more interesting than the rest of the year. I know, I know, that’s not the point of Ramadan, but I’m a foodie (ironic, ain’t it?) and I can’t help but to appreciate good food when I see it (or make it). A lot of what we make is made in small quantities, so as not to splurge, as that would take away from the importance of administering self-control. However, there are no limits on how scrumptious the food can be! A few of my favorites are shrimp pakoras, chicken patties and, of course, samosas–no Ramadan is complete if you don’t have the above at least once during the month. That said, I try to savor every morsel, grain by grain, because there are those who have naught half that morsel to break their fast with. Treat yourself for your good behavior, don’t over-indulge, and make sure to hit the gym so you don’t rack up those pounds!

And of course, good food always inspires good conversations. One of the highlights of Ramadan are the many conversations we have as a family around the table. They are enlightening and entertaining; they range from stories about the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) and his family to the lessons relayed in the previous night’s taraweeh (supplementary prayers). It strikes me so suddenly each year that my father has so much knowledge to impart on me and yet I never fully take advantage of this opportunity until Ramadan. And this year has been no exception to that realization, but hopefully I’ll make sure to remedy that problem; after all, acquiring more knowledge is one of the many goals of this blessed month, one that should be carried over to the remainder of the year.

This may not be the most eloquent relation of what my Ramadan is like, it may not be the most inspiring, or even the best, but I do hope you enjoyed the erratic narration all the same–perhaps it added a bit of charm to the whole thing? Maybe?

Naveen Habib

I have never experienced Ramadan outside of the United States, or even outside of my state before, but I can speak to my own experience of Ramadan in Oregon. For me, Ramadan is a time when I can start new habits that I will, hopefully, carry out for the rest of the year. For example, I try to pray all of the supererogatory prayers along with each of the required prayer. This Ramadan I am also attempting to finish reading the whole Qur’an, so before and after each prayer I will usually read two pages from the Qur’an.

I live the blissfully unemployed life of the student—what that means is that during Ramadan I can stay awake until suhoor (pre-dawn breakfast) and beyond, and wake up late in the afternoon, which is unsettling for my mother. I began, this, the tenth day of Ramadan with suhoor. My suhoor consisted of a hearty bowl of blueberry banana cinnamon oatmeal, a cup of Emergen-C, a can of coconut water, and of course the ever-present dates and chai.

My real day starts when I wake up in the afternoon. I am very slow at waking up so I drag myself to the bathroom to wash up and make wudu (ablution) so that I can pray Dhuhr (afternoon prayer). The rest of my day goes by pretty uneventfully. I laze about going on Twitter, watch TV, reading the Qur’an, planning iftar (post-sundown dinner), and reading a book. There is a lull in my family’s day around six-o-clock in the evening; everything has to be prepared for iftar, now it is just a waiting game… sometimes we’ll go to the grocery store if we forget something or play board games to pass time, but usually we just count down the minutes.

Today, for iftar, we are eating Italian vegetable soup, salad, and baked shrimp egg-rolls. During Ramadan we try to eat healthier foods because we are eating less  meals a day and it is easier to digest on an empty stomach. By the time we have broken our fast, prayed Maghrib (sundown prayer), and cleaned everything up, it is time for Tarawih (supplementary prayers). My favorite part about Tarawih, other than praying and seeing my friends, is wearing my Batman-Dracula-esque jilbab (black dress garment). My dad says that I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame in it, but I think that he’s just taking a jab at my horrible posture. After Tarawih my dad will sometimes go out to drink coffee with his friends, and I inevitably get stuck with him, but I am okay with that because some of my friends will also, no doubt, be in that predicament as well. By the time we get home it is usually around two-thirty in the morning, so I stay up until the new day of Ramadan begins. 10 days down, 20 to go.

Mariam Said

Last year around this time, I was a traveler. This time around, I find myself in that position again. Today is like any other – the early morning start, the feeling of tiredness, and the reminder of my (and all of our) privilege – yet it is unlike any other. Today isn't a regular day during Ramadan for me, but a day of appropriately conducted celebration of life; the day my niece is introduced to the world. The experience of becoming an aunt has been a completely new one, yet the feeling of loving someone as much as I love her isn't entirely new. I'm distracted by the going ons of the day, the preparations for her event, to the extent of not noticing the physical deficiencies that are often felt during the first week or so of Ramadan. Rather, I embrace them, and ask for spiritual proficiencies instead. I forget what time iftar is today, something that normally doesn't slip my mind, but when it comes around, I feel rejuvenated.

The exact details of the day are blurred in my mind; honestly, they aren't that important. Days during Ramadan speed by like no other days during the year, and it becomes hard to keep track of them. However, the feelings experienced during the day will never be forgotten. Despite how tired one feels, or the materialistic desires one has, the love of another comes through and is most exemplified during Ramadan. The most important thing I've taken from the day is to not give in to the matters of the superficial world. I often forget how this feels when not fasting, but today, I recalled the notion better than I ever had before. Sometimes, we take the most basic things in our lives for granted; our families, food, shelter, and health. I feel thankful knowing that I can break my fast when there are people out there who may not be able to. I feel powerful knowing that I can overcome the lack of motivation that comes with deprivation of the body. I also feel a sense of relief knowing that moments like these will keep me connected to what matters most – the ones I love, the things I believe in, and the things I aspire to – rather than the things that lay there as an intended distraction, often gripped by many who find it difficult to overcome the things we sometimes think of as unavoidable in our world.

Today, I also remember that starting a month from now, I won't be consistently surrounded by this support system that has built me up for two decades. I will face the unknown, be forced to challenge myself once again, and face fear head-on. The resilience I get from the time I spend away from the usual temptations we all face in the world has made me more sure than ever that I'm capable of not only getting through it, but also of making the most of it. So, while the day has been one of obvious hurdles – the lack of food, water, time to rest – it is more than anything a test of my spirit. It is more proof that with one's own will, the seemingly difficult can be achieved – something I will remind myself of for many days to come.

Ghezal Hamidi

Wow this kind of feels weird, it has been almost two weeks since I last saw my Muslim Public Affairs Council delegates and now we are already in Ramadan. Ramadan hasn’t really felt different from my normal life, except for a heightened sense of Islamic resurgence in my community and a short burst by people to learn more. Honestly I am still trying my best to juggle all the other aspects of my life. I believe that Ramadan does not come once a year to force us to drop everything else in life and focus on Islam, but it is to re-energize the pace that you set to accomplish your tasks, including Islamic subjects. If you haven’t been keeping a goal associated with Islam, such as reading the Qu’ran or studying hadith, then Ramadan is the time to pick up the ball and run with it for the next year, or however long you can keep it up.

To me fasting feels different every time I practice it. I’ve been keeping all my fasts so far Praise Be to God, but I’m not gonna lie it’s pretty hard with these like 15 hour fasts, I think I lost a few pounds already because I had to tighten my belt even more today. When I make my intention in the morning before Fajr (pre-dawn prayer), I have to make sure I do it for Allah alone, and I ask him to help me focus in my everyday tasks and not fall asleep or get distracted. Today, I struggled to wake up for Fajr, and my suhoor  (pre-dawn breakfast) was quick, just vitamins, Nutella, and a chug of Gatorade, all which was a repeat of the past day as well. I woke up at around 9AM and got started on; planning Muslim Youth Civic Engagement Forum (MYCEF) at ADAMS, studied for my math placement test for college, applied for the National Eagle Scout Association membership, and did some other research.

The picture on the left was my workstation for the day.
The picture on the right is my suhoor.

After a long day of writing, thinking, and planning, I joined a few of the delegates I met at the Muslim Public Affairs Council Government Summit for an iftar (dinner after sundown). We challenged each other at a game of Monopoly a way to keep us all busy until it was time to break our fast. The gathering was filled with warmth and happiness, some of the delegates decided to prepare dishes and were cooking meals that included a Moroccan dish, an Afghani eggplant dish, barbecue chicken, and homemade baked macaroni and cheese. The gathering really lightened up my spirits and brought back great memories from the Government Summit two weeks ago. I honestly thought that I was going to lose contact with them but we keep in touch every day, the Young Leaders’  Government Summit really impacted my life. Their friendship and companionship helped me get a good start on Ramadan.

A way that Ramadan is really different for me in America is the variety of food and the diverse community makeup that emerges during social gatherings. For example, my family almost goes to a different house every to break our fast. I get the chance to experience a variation of foods, from corn and chicken to rice and curry. However, the only difference is that the interaction between Muslims in my community is too formal, we don’t act like our next-door Muslims are our brothers and sisters you know? But back in say Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia, each iftar is like an open house party and everybody is hugging and laughing with each other. Maybe it’s just my family, but I feel that as a community we are always too formal, quiet, and  disengaged. I’d like our communities to be more lively and interactive building bonds of love and brotherhood because that’s what Ramadan should be.

Azraf Ullah

During this Ramadan I feel like I am saying Alhamdullah (Thank God) more than ever. Each time I see a friend, learn something new, or just walk into the masjid I get these ‘happy feelings’ and I am reminded of the many blessings I have been given.

It's not that I don’t remember to thank God during the other eleven months in the year, but I feel like the month of Ramadan makes you slow down and ‘smell the roses’. Maybe I’m usually thinking of what I’m going to eat, where I’m going to eat, or if I should eat before or after the gym. But Ramadan stops these thoughts: no eating, no going out to eat, and no time for the gym (for me at least). Alhamdulilah for the roses.

“This is my favorite time of prayer, the masjid becomes silent, even the kids stop running around!”

My mind is on a different track in Ramadan. For me it’s work, iftar (breaking of fast), taraweeh (supplementary payers), sleep, suhoor (pre-dawn breakfast), sleep, and repeat. Of course scattered throughout is prayer, getting some Quran time in, and watching and reading the crazy amounts of knowledge posted online. Alhamdulilah for the Quran and its teachings.

Other than work and home, my time is spent at the mosque. The nights are for prayer and the weekends are jam packed with qiyams (mid-night prayers) and lectures. It’s the only time where the masjid is full every night of the week and it doesn’t lock its doors after ‘Isha (night prayer). Christmas songs sing about “the most wonderful time of the year” but for me that’s the month of Ramadan. The mosque is alive and Muslims are filling up every prayer space in the mosque. Alhamdulilah for our mosques.

“I'm always motivated by these kids during prayer, they pray the whole thing together!”

Maybe it’s because I’m spending more time focused on Allah that I’m reminded to thank Him. Maybe it’s because I love seeing the mosque full of members from my community. Maybe it's because I get to eat so many amazing foods every night. Maybe it's because I appreciate that one meal more than ever. Maybe it's because I get to see my friends every night at the mosque.

Alhamdulilah for everything.

Yasmine Asfoor

(pun very much intended)

It has been a wonderful first two weeks of this holy month. I’ve broken my fast and shared in warm festivities with many of my friends here in our nation’s capitol. After completing my internship I returned to my home in Chicago to spend the remainder of Ramadan with family and friends. 

In terms of fatigue, thirst, and hunger, it hasn’t been too bad. The 8:30pm fast breaking hasn’t been as drastic as I thought it would be. Most of the fatigue occurs in the first week of Ramadan, so it can only get better from now. The fact of the matter is that while I am keeping busy at work and my mind is occupied, I might forget that I’m fasting. Missing the normal lunch break adds an hour or so of productivity. As opposed to sitting at home and reading, which I’ve done in all of the years until now, this feels great. The nature of my work might better explain why I haven’t been thinking about my abstention from food or drink.

I am a Policy Fellow at the Syrian Emergency Task Force. This organization is a member of the American Syrian Coalition, which works to lobby and advocate the U.S. government for humanitarian and safe zones in Syria and more leadership to help resolve the bloody 17-month conflict. I have family in Syria, as do many of my Syrian American friends, so the killing and suffering affects us emotionally. The fact that the Syrian people are fasting along with the rest of the 2 billion Muslims worldwide, in the midst of the state of war, has been inspiring. Now, the Syrian people are not the first nor the last people to be fasting Ramadan while enduring war, famine, or turmoil. We hear stories everyday of children across the globe who are in a perpetual state of fasting. As Ramadan is a time for reflection and sobriety, holding empathy for others is paramount. Having walked the streets of Homs, Syria every summer of my childhood, having lost a cousin to sniper fire, and having grandparents in Syria taking shelter from artillery fire has an accelerator effect on the path to empathy. And it is this empathy for suffering which allows me to forget that I am not eating or drinking at times.

Watching YouTube videos sent by activists in Syria that depict the utter cruelty of the Assad regime and its thugs, unimaginable scenes of gore and blood, heart-wrenching moments of innocent people losing the ones they love, the fragility of life, and the monstrous potential that mankind holds is an easy way to become desensitized. This past year I felt helpless as people who speak with the same Arabic dialect as mine and people my age who I very well may have encountered during my summers there saw their entire world collapse as their homes, schools, parks, and houses of worship were destroyed. All these people have is God to protect them as the international community continues to stand by and watch, and Western leaders continue to talk as Russia and China ruthlessly continue protecting their interests in the Assad regime. The Syria peoples’ only solace at this time is that God will end their suffering.

With that constantly in mind I try to connect my physical cleansing by way of fasting with the spiritual cleansing and renewal that is supposed to occur in this month. I’ve struggled so far to make the most out of Ramadan, mainly due to laziness and bad habits from the rest of the year. Now is a time to show gratitude for the luxuries we are blessed with, a time to ask God for forgiveness and a clean slate, a time to build new habits for a more pure, productive way of life, and a time to pray and help those that are struggling worldwide, especially the people in our own cities. There are still about two weeks left of this month, and I hope we all can catch up on what we’ve missed and take advantage of what is left of this blessed time.

Adham Sahloul