Women gather around to try on various assortments for the next day and you can easily lose your voice amongst the laughter and bargaining that occurs. The objective of the month of fasting is, therefore, two-fold: on the one hand, it paves the way for the intellectual development of a believer, and on the other hand, it promotes a sense of well-wishing, charity, and compassion in society.

When it’s warm weather and the heating’s on at work, that makes it harder but this all reminds me of difficulties other people are going through every day and that’s important to me. My family and I go every year to this little local alley, that only allows oneway traffic, and we stand on the edges waiting in line for henna. I'm so glad you shared this all publicly because seeing leaders showcase allyship helps people from all walks of life to bring their true selves to work - a key element of inclusion. Youngsters dress up in their traditional clothes, carry decorated bags and walk around their neighbourhoods singing the Gergaoon song, in hopes of some neighbourly treats.She speaks to me like a longtime friend who knows me well, yet with the wisdom of a great-grandmother from another time. Checking in - please check on your colleagues, both Muslim and non-Muslim, as some colleagues might need support if they live alone or become isolated, this is prevalent amongst isolated Muslims during the month of Ramadan. She says: “Some people think non-fragrant ‘wild’ flowers are worthless and using worthless flowers is disrespectful to the dead. The richness of this book nourishes the soul with what it truly needs and I pray that anyone who reads it finishes it feeling completely fulfilled. You are then invited to think differently; take yourself from where you are now to where you’d like to be.

It is customary to decorate the graves with pleasant smelling flowers and is deemed disrespectful if non-fragrant flowers are used. I have also taken so much benefit from Islamic books that I have read in the Ramadans I have experienced since converting to Islam. It is usually a busy day as we will have constant visitors coming round and we will also go and visit as well.And yet, built into this is a lesson for Muslims who are also encouraged to read and review the Qur’an in Ramadan – not only for preservation in the long line of those who have memorised the Qur’an in its original form, but also for purpose and meaning. Each time I have picked up Ramadan Reflections, I have felt like a close companion was in conversation with me.

In the last 5 to 10 years, there has been an increase in the demand of Ramadan-related books for children and adults. The streets would be flooded with lanterns of all colours and sizes and this little trip became our yearly tradition before Ramadan. The level of understanding and awareness about Ramadan was limited, the attitudes somewhat dismissive and as a young boy it felt quite daunting to have to explain myself and my faith to those around me who simply could not understand.How can we as a family come together and with our own hands help the hungry, care for our neighbor, reconnect with God ( Allah) in a way that is more meaningful than rushed prayers in between activities? This is undoubtedly the most joyous Ramadan tradition we’ve come across, full of smiling children, melodic songs, and sweets. However, those acquainted with the diverse cultural phenomena of the Star Trek universe may be surprised to learn of the many spiritual parallels that exist between the franchises and the Islamic tradition.

For many, it is marked by fasting with no food or water before the hours of sunrise to sunset which translates from about 4.As our second Ramadan of the pandemic approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the last year, and thinking about what lies ahead. Scholars of Islam refer to the abstaining of our physical desires as merely the first and most basic level of fasting. The day was tough, but it was really good to understand a tiny bit of what my Muslim colleagues go through for a month without complaint every year. Abstinence from even the daily necessities provides a significant character-building opportunity to a believer. We cleanse our minds and bodies before and during prayer five times a day, and many Muslims around the world take this purification further when practising special occasions.