Regardless of your ethnicity, background, religious observation, hood and blood type, we here at KabobFest would like to wish all of you Ramadan Mubarak! Or Kareem. Whichever floats your boat.
To those of you out there who are observing this month, I hope that Ramadan does not end at the first of Shawwal for you. Far too often, we immerse ourselves completely within Ramadan, consuming our days with the sort of discipline and gratitude Ramadan forces us to undertake. Yet just as often we forget that discipline and gratitude as soon as Eid ul-Fitr passes. We forget that this is a month to cleanse our body and heart of its impurities – from our unhealthy eating habits to our sometimes almost unconscious avoidance of the hunger around us. Regardless of one’s religiosity or even belief within Islam, we can agree that Ramadan, as with any occasion of fasting from any faith, does teach us valuable lessons regarding our own livelihoods and position within this world.
We are reminded briefly of the pains of millions around the world, many in our own backyards and on our streets, suffer without the comfort of knowing that at the end of the day there is going to be a meal waiting to fill the roaring stomachs. We fast to starve ourselves – starve us of our egos, our materialism, and our individualism. When we fast we experience, together, the realities of an empty stomach and the realities of a fed soul. And of course, take this month of communal dinners and support to get to know your brethren – Muslim or not. Starve yourself of your shyness, your lethargy and your inhibitions.
There is a hadith, or tradition, of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) as narrated by Abu Hurairah that: “Many people who fast, gain nothing from their fast except for thirst and hunger. And many people who pray at night gain nothing but wakefulness.” (Darimi)
May our fasts hunger us from our ingratitude and heedlessness and create a thirst within us to become better individuals. And may our prayers create a constant wakefulness within us towards the suffering and injustice in this world.
This month is a feast… not of noise, but silence; not of banquets but restraint; not of forgetfulness but remembrance. This month is a feast for the faith. – Tariq Ramadan
Related posts:
- Ramadan Mubarak & Happy Rosh Hashanah
- Ramadan Karim
- HAPPY RAMADAN
- Alaa Hlehel: A Nightmare Called Ramadan
- Ramadan on France
Great post Sana.
Posted by NawalKF | August 23, 2009, 2:45 amGreat post.
I'm not a Muslim, but I've observed Ramadan for a few years now. It's a beautiful sacrifice and a good experience.
Posted by Noelle | August 23, 2009, 3:32 amAmeen!!
Posted by UmLora | August 23, 2009, 3:22 pmRamadan kareem!
Posted by KABOBfestWill | August 24, 2009, 9:34 pmyo Sana, what mosque do you pray Taraweeh at?
Posted by Hadeer | August 28, 2009, 11:56 pmOne with an imaam with great qira'at – why?
Posted by SanaKF | August 29, 2009, 2:45 amI think you're supposed to say, "one with an imaam who is a great qaari' "…
btw, don't know if you've hearrrrd, but ICOI, Islamic Center of Irvine, brought over SHEIKH ALAFASY to lead prayer!!! FOR THE WHOLE MONTH!!!…you know him, right?
Posted by Hadeer | August 29, 2009, 7:04 pmThat's pretty sweet. I think a lot of mosques are doing that – one of my local mosques brought in a great one from Egypt. I don't think he's well-known but mash'Allah he's an extremely awesome dude.
Also, I'm still learning Arabic and didn't know that the noun is qaari.
Posted by Sana | August 31, 2009, 7:29 pmRamadan Karim from your friends at Jewlicious! BTW what's the difference between "Ramadan Karim" and "Ramadan Mubarak?" I know Karim means "generous" and mubarak (like the Hebrew mevorach) means "blessed" but is there one that is preferred over the other? In my neck of the woods everyone says Karim. Whatever the case may be, great post, and have a great and fulfilling Ramadan!
Posted by Jewlicious | August 31, 2009, 5:36 amEid Mubarak, Sana. Just interviewed with my school's PR department about fasting as a Christian. This month is always one of growth for me. And that Tariq Ramadan quote is one I may use in every reference to Ramadan I make for the rest of my life.
See you in January, insha'Allah.
Big Bailey
Posted by Bailey | September 21, 2009, 4:17 am