This time of year is famous, as a sense of enchantment is felt all over the world. Valentine’s Day takes centre stage as people are still mulling over how they celebrated their loved ones and significant others. However, this year is different, as a certain demographic will be beginning a religious observance in the days after Valentine’s Day.
This year, Ramadan, known as the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and the month of fasting, begins on the evening of Tuesday, 17 February, and ends on 18 March.
Ramadan is an important and core month within the Islamic community and faith; it is a month of worship and spiritual reflection and charity. The holy month is defined by Sawm, the fourth among the five pillars of Islam; the pillar dictates that those who are able-bodied and have passed the age of puberty must fast from dawn to sunset every day for a 29–30-day period.
Muslims all over the world look to the sky for the sighting of Ramadan Hilal (the first moon), known as the ‘moon of Ramadan,’ which signifies the start of Ramadan. A month like Ramadan is not something that muslims will just approach or enter anyhow. Muslims each take time to prepare themselves so they can enter properly.
“I devote more time to reading the Qur’an and understanding it, trying to get closer to Allah,” said Taahir Ahmed, a first year pharmacy student. Spiritual focus and alignment are essential when prepping for Ramadan. Muslims want to prepare their spirits and their hearts for the month they are going to undertake.
For Ahmed, this can include: “Trying to refrain and stop any bad habits, trying to avoid anything that is unseemly in the eyes of Allah, keeping themselves as spiritually clean as possible.
Ahmed adds that during this time, “giving to charity and being unbiased to people no matter their are all important aspects of prepping for Ramadan.
Charity is very important in prepping for Ramadan, the concept of giving and the mindset behind it, the willingness to give to others and the humility in knowing that you are not above someone just because you are in a more fortunate position than them. Leen Raheem, a psychology master’s student also emphasised that fact.
Another aspect of the prep lean shone light on is the food aspect, meal planning in advance in the early hours of the day. “I’m starting to make a schedule with my sister what we’re going to eat, everyday cooking with my family, cooking with my sister.” They have to meal plan in the early mornings to sustain themselves each day throughout the holy month, so that they don’t break their fast.
Raheem also re-iterated the importance of prayer in prepping for Ramadan. “Something I do, even after having a hard day, I sit by myself and pray and just read my Qur’an. There’s obviously so many things to do but make sure to pray.”