This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Amna Faheem. Find her on Instagram at @amnaf.aheem. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
The most holy month in Islam is upon us: Ramadan.
Ramadan’s significance stems from the belief it is the month in which the Holy Qur’an- the religious text in Islam- was sent down from heaven to Prophet Muhammad. Prophet Muhammad is also considered the final prophet of Islam. He is said to be the messenger of God and is declared to be the founder of Islam itself.
What is Ramadan?
Based on the lunar cycle, Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which follows the phases and cycle of the moon. The month, lasting exactly 30 days, is one of worship and spiritual improvement, though it is mainly known for its fasting. Because the lunar calendar is not as consistent as the solar one, Ramadan moves up around ten days each year, starting earlier and earlier in the year. Last year, the month began on March 10th. This year, the first day of Ramadan was declared on March 1st.
The month of Ramadan requires observing Muslims to fast from sunrise to sunset. Muslims are unable to consume any food or drink any liquids- even water- until the sun sets. We call this ‘Maghreb.’ Essentially, we can’t put anything in our mouths save for the occasional swish of water to wet our tongue and brush our teeth. Even gum is prohibited.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the first present moon, marking the start of the new month. It is not confirmed until usually the night before, leaving practicing Muslims in a sort of guessing game as to when their fast will begin. The first meal at sundown is called ‘Iftar’ and it is encouraged to participate in the pre-dawn meal, ‘Sohour,’ to hydrate and eat a small meal before the fasting day begins again.
How it is Celebrated
How Ramadan is celebrated is more than fasting. Ramadan is about community. It is about embracing one’s best self and striving to rid oneself of bad qualities and sinful actions. Muslims are expected to adhere to the five daily prayers and refrain from swearing and gossiping. We are also expected to engage in great acts of kindness and to give back to our communities. Ramadan is about worshipping God but also about being your best Muslim self.
Celebrating Ramadan is usually done so with your family. Parents and children gather around the table. Women work in the kitchen for the hours leading up to Iftar while young kids play and run around (children are exempt from fasting until they reach a certain age). People pass around dates when it is time to break fast and fill up each other’s water glasses. Plates are piled high, and laughter floats through homes, accompanying the aroma of fresh meals made with love. Traditional music sings in the background and lanterns swing in doorways.
Ramadan at Home
Being from Egypt, Ramadan is always met with anticipation and excitement. The streets are lined with ornaments and banners with traditional patterns. Lamps with colored glass are hung up, and half-moon figurines are placed in every corner of every home. Hunting down the most authentic of decorations is like a thrilling game. People want to embrace the holy month as much as possible and filling their homes with the proper furnishing is the best way to do so. My mothers home exudes a warmth resembling a hug, welcoming the new month and all its beauty.
Ramadan is a different life, and how Ramadan is celebrated can differ based on where you are from. Hearing the Athan mark the Maghreb, flocking to the Mosque to pray Taraweeh with your cousins, staying up all night with your sister drinking water, and eating your mother’s leftovers- it is the definition of home and comfort.
All those experiences come with celebrating Ramadan in your homeland. And when you are away from your family, away from the streets you recognize so closely, and from the touch of your grandmother, as she passes you the prayer mat, Ramadan can be isolating. Especially in a country that is not the most welcoming or good at embracing your people and culture.
How can you celebrate an entire month dedicated to community and family without any family around you?
The silence of the Maghreb where an Athan should ring is only a reminder of how solitary it is to be away from the homeland.
But, despite the overwhelming feeling of loneliness that creeps up on you when you least expect it, there are still traditions you can continue to participate in no matter where you are.
Making a Home Away From Home
Praying is one of the five pillars of Islam and is evermore important during Ramadan. Finding a local Mosque and attending it, even if only for the Maghreb or Friday prayer, can give you that feeling of connection to your culture. Hearing the Imam recite the Qur’an or being around others who also speak your language and understand your culture can be all the more comforting. Some Arab community centers even host Iftar that are open to the public and can be a wonderful way to connect with others and develop friendships. Finding support away from home can ease the feeling of isolation and separation from the authenticity of Ramadan.
There are also many traditional Ramadan dishes that often cycle through the table as the month goes on. Sourcing dates from an ethnic supermarket (depending on where you are, you can even find a Middle Eastern market that carries dates from the homeland) can give you a tether back home. Lentil soup, Fattoush, chicken, stuffed grape leaves, and the sweet delicacy that is Kounefeh are all easy to make. Learning and making these dishes for yourself, while not the same as eating with your family, can alleviate the disconnect you might endure. Living in America, in a country that does not understand, or try to understand, your culture and heritage, can be very lonely and make one feel like an outcast. Everybody knows what Christmas and Hanukah are. Everyone is familiar with the Bible and is knowledge and what the Torah is.
But ignorance is always accompanied when discussing Islam. Everybody’s favorite question is “Not even water?!” when learning about the parameters of Ramadan. Making a home away from home can be very arduous. Adding on the rejection many of us face can make it all the more difficult.
When Ramadan comes around, and all you want, all you yearn for, is a cheese sandwich made by your mother, to wipe the sleep from your eyes as you pray Fajr alongside your sisters, to gather around a table and drink mint tea and laugh with your friends in the middle of the night, it is heartbreaking when you realize that is unobtainable. How Ramadan is celebrated is different for everyone. But it is always made beautiful and special because of family.
Do you, or someone you know, celebrate Ramadan? Let us know how you do it in the comments below!
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