It is the time of the year where Muslims worldwide observe the holy month of Ramadaan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar that is dedicated to prayer, fasting and self-reflection.
Ramadaan is a month of spiritual connection and unification where observers fast from sunrise to sunset. The joy and love shared during the holy month of Ramadaan is looked forward to and cherished by young and old alike. Last year, Ramadaan occurred at the height of the coronavirus pandemic which meant that traditions such as hosting family and friends had to be cancelled. Hundreds of people normally gather at the mosques for Taraweeh prayers, which are performed every night during the month of Ramadaan and which unfortunately was not possible last year. A Phoenix family said they were looking forward to observing Ramadaan this year, with the relaxed lockdown restrictions.
Fazana Mohamed, a mother of five, said Ramadaan was a time for introspection, self-improvement, heightened devotion and worship. She said during the holy month, she enjoys the extra early morning meal preparations for her family. While others opt to purchase ready-made ingredients, Mahomed enjoys preparing each meal/dish for her family from scratch. “My family enjoys having freshly prepared meals made with love. I usually wake up at 3am and start preparing breakfast before waking the kids up for a bath. Once they all have had a bath, we gather around the dining table to have our sehri (breakfast). After breakfast, we wait for the Azaan and start praying together before proceeding with the day ahead. In the evenings, we have a light meal to break fast (Iftar), once again sitting around the table before getting ready for Taraweeh,” said Mohamed.
The Mohamed family also gives back to the community by preparing meals for distribution to the vulnerable. Rabia Khan, a Phoenix resident who will be observing the holy month of Ramadaan, said this was the time for people to reflect on themselves, to become better people and a time to repent if one feels they have sinned or done wrong. “When we were younger, we looked forward to Ramadaan, the delicious meals prepared, the new clothes received, the closeness of family gatherings and the blessings of fasting, all are indeed special,” said Khan. Khan said that she wishes for the younger generation to be more proactive with their religion and to try to understand it better, to develop good values.
The management and staff of Tabloid Newspapers take this opportunity in wishing all Muslims Ramadaan Mubarak.
