Our Ramadan Traditions

Although Ramadan is now acknowledged globally, surprisingly, many people are unaware of its purpose, details, traditions, and truthfully Ramadan itself. You don’t have to be Muslim to enjoy the benefits of Ramadan. Learn the facts and see how it can improve your mind, body and soul. However, before I dive into the benefits, religious and cultural norms, I would love to wish all my readers a very happy and blessed Ramadan.

Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, has now started. It offers to any true seeker a self-reflective course that has the power to bring a revolution of the heart and help restore justice, peace, and harmony in the world.

Ramadan is the embodiment of reflection, revelation, revolution, and restoration. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) began his journey into prophethood through reflection within. He was searching for a broader meaning in life that would restore justice and peace in society. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was looking for an answer that would transcend the need for material survival and transform humanity into a spiritually healthy state. He reflected and meditated, spending many years in the sanctuary of a remote cave, surrounded by steep, barren mountains situated in Mecca's outskirts. Finally, he received the answers in the form of divine revelations. It was in the ninth month of the Arabic calendar, known as Ramadan.

Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection, and community. A commemoration of Muhammad's (peace be upon him,) first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Fasting from sunrise to sunset is obligatory for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, traveling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although fatwas are issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with midnight sun or polar night should follow Mecca's timetable, it is common practice to follow the closest country's schedule.

The spiritual rewards (thawab) multiply during the month of Ramadan. Accordingly, Muslims refrain from food and drink and tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior, devoting themselves instead to salat (prayer) and recitation of the Quran.

The Quran's revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took twenty-three years and consisted of a hundred and fourteen chapters. It is a joyous month full of prayer and celebration for Muslims.

The Ramadan fast is absolute. Healthy adults require to observe the fast. During Ramadan, the fast helps believers purify their hearts, renew their faith, seek forgiveness, and strengthen self-discipline. It is also a time to focus on what is most important and positive in a believer's life.

Believers are also encouraged to abstain from temper and to show compassion. Fasting can be a way to increase Allah's awareness and be more aware of the plight of those who are poor and suffering. Acts of charity are especially encouraged during this holy month. Any good deed multiplies copiously. Ergo Muslims, donate to many charities and underprivileged, they cook plentifully and share amongst neighbors, friends, and at mosque iftars.

Where's the FUN, you ask?

Living in a diversified country, moments to share our cultural fashion are limited. Now even more due to Covid-19. Generally, we dress up in our rich embroidered clothing and participate in social gathering iftars. We all pray the opening prayer together and then share the quality time eating together as well. Praying together solidifies the unity and the closeness. It strengthens our Iman for our faith and serves as an excellent reminder to be grateful to our holy creator. During this month, prayers fulfill instantly, and all the Muslims pray for the heartiest wishes for health, longevity, find the true path, and wisdom to make the best choices.

For me, in prayer at the mosque, when I hear the Imam leading the prayer, my soul finds it so serene and beautiful that I am tearing as I lay my forehead in sujood.

CULTURAL FASHION

RAMADAN FOOD TRADITIONS

Generally, Muslims break their fasts with dates, following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad, then dinner. People prepare dinner according to their cultural tradition. For example, my Pakistani husband, born in Faisalabad, prefers a plate full of meat, naan (pita-bread), and yogurt mix chutney, spicy Pakistani-style dishes. In contrast, I, an Americanized Lahore, fancy beef/chicken rolls, simple white rice, lentils, a kebab, pakoras (fried dumplings with spinach, onion, and potato,) and fresh greens.

I introduced these rolls as a daily Iftar breaker to my husband and daughters. Over the years, my family became addicts to my prestigious rolls, to the point where we fight over who takes the last roll, to making love sacrifices down to our last bite of the rolls. Basically, without these rolls, Ramadan is not the same in our home.

Each year two days before Ramadan, my husband buys the grocery for the rolls, and I make all the stuffing. Then my three little chefs and I roll on average Two-Hundred Rolls.

Last year my husband and daughters were out of town (first Ramadan without my family.) While I should relax, I chose alternatively to surprise them, so I went ahead and cooked twelve pounds of meat and stuffed Two Hundred and Seventy-Five Rolls all by myself! SEE PICS BELOW!!!!!!!

When my family returned the following week; they devoured these scrumptious rolls. It is our annual Ramadan tradition and by far a most gratifying one. You sholud have seen the expression on their faces when I surprised them!

Look at how perfectly crisp and golden they fry. The rolls are so tasty it almost feels incomplete tasting just one.

Ramadan is also a time for family union and extended celebration with friends and neighbors lasting for a month. Extra prayer, charity, recitation, and the celebration of the Holy Quran's completion are highlights of this month. Restraining one's anger, refraining from gossip, and back-biting. Are essential self-developmental features manifested through physical fasting.

The Benefits of Fasting

Aside from the religious obligations upon Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, fasting has innumerable health benefits, too. From improved weight management and healthier blood cell regeneration to better heart function and vascular wellbeing, fasting has become quite the go-to method of keeping young, fit and healthy.

APPETITE SUPPRESSANT

Do you ever notice that feeling of not being able to tell when you're full? Or eating out of pure boredom? Fasting can correct those problems. By structuring your day around everything apart from eating, your body eventually gets accustomed to not feeling hungry all the time. During the Holy month of Ramadan, many Muslims who are partaking in the obligatory fasts will experience many cravings during the fasting day, only to find that they cannot consume much upon opening their fast. The reason is that the less you put into your stomach over a length of time, the more the stomach shrinks - leading you to feel full after just a tiny amount of food. This process also increases the thyroid hormone production in the body, boosting your metabolism in the process.

METABOLISM

One of the more obvious fasting results in alleviating obesity; fasting prompts the liver's enzymes to break down cholesterol and fats to convert them into bile acid, which, in turn, converts to heat – ultimately stimulating faster metabolism. Naturally, fasting also decreases the appetite, which reduces the hunger hormone levels in the body. You may find your portion sizes being significantly smaller following a period of fasting.

WEIGHT LOSS

The term fasting means to refrain from food or drink or even both at the same time. When the human body is undergoing the starvation process, the body will utilize and burn any stored energy.
If done correctly, fasting can do wonders for weight loss - particularly for loss of fatty tissues in the body, leading to better physical structure overall. Incorporating intermittent fasting into a regular resistance training regime will promote more significant fat loss with quicker results.

BLOOD PRESSURE

A decrease in the body's salt intake and salt loss through urine lowers the body's blood pressure.

TRAINING

HGH, also known as Human Growth Hormone, is organically produced by the human body and is known to build muscle mass which effectively burns fat. Although it remains active in your bloodstream for merely a few minutes, it can go a long way towards increasing lean muscle strength, which could be incredibly beneficial for training.
Many athletic professionals tend to utilize the fasting method in the lead-up to big games as it is vital for burning fat while targeting and optimizing muscle growth.

IMPROVED CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

Fasting can lead to a healthier heart, lowering cholesterol, and promoting improved muscle performance along with enhanced blood vessel growth.

MENTAL HEALTH

Fasting also goes a significantly long way towards balancing the mind and reducing mental stress. Fasting is also known to strengthen the mind, sharpen focus and provide mental clarity – this is primarily due to a reduction in calorie, sugar, and salt intake.

RADIANT COMPLEXION /ANTI-AGEING

Fasting could potentially slow down the aging process, keeping you younger and fitter for longer, and it could also potentially increase lifespan. Fasting leads to the production of restored tissues and cells within the human body, degrading unnecessary cells in the process. The regeneration enables you to produce collagen, leading to healthier and more radiant skin.

HEALTHIER BRAIN AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

During the fasting process, blood in the human body fills up with more endorphins, which gives you a feeling of wellbeing and excellent mental health. The overall effects of fasting have a similar impact on the brain as physical exercise would.
As fasting forms one of the five critical pillars of Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory upon all able Muslims.
However, should you wish to incorporate any other types of fasting at any additional time of the year, it is essential to remember to plan your fasting structure well. Be realistic about what you wish to achieve, and always ensure that you are in the right mental and physical mindset to reap the full benefits of fasting. Always ensure you get adequate sleep and ensure your stress levels are low.

DETOXIFY

As well as being great for spiritually cleansing yourself, Ramadan acts as a fantastic detox for your body. By not eating or drinking throughout the day, the body will be offered the rare chance to detoxify your digestive system throughout the month.
When your body starts eating into fat reserves to create energy, it will also burn away any harmful toxins present in fat deposits. This body will leave a healthy blank slate behind and is the perfect stepping stone to a consistently healthy lifestyle.

During Ramadan, Muslims in the United States encounter the additional challenge of keeping their fast and performing different rituals in a non-observing environment where most do not fast. Yet my experience is that this extra challenge makes fasting more meaningful. This challenge helps rejuvenate my weary spirit and expand my vision to embrace humanity as my own. This month also offers Muslims everywhere the opportunity to explain the meaning of Ramadan to non-Muslim friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Many mosques in the U.S.A, for example, extend an open invitation to non-Muslims to join their Muslim neighbors in breaking fasts in the mosque, thereby exposing them to the warmth of Muslim hospitality and Islam's rich cultural diversity.

How non-Muslims can support Muslims during Ramadan

Be cognizant of the holiday. Muslims observing the fast may be tired and dehydrated. Be mindful of this, and be thoughtful of those who may struggle during their fast.
If you are inspired, ask questions about what a Muslim friend or teammate is learning during Ramadan. Ask how you can discover their religious tenets.
Muslims hold a communal Iftar meal daily after the Maghrib prayer at sunset to break their daily Ramadan fasts. Due to the pandemic, many Iftar meals occur within family residences as opposed to mosque gatherings. The spirit of community and charity will remain present.
Feel free to wish Muslim brothers and sisters a Happy Ramadan by saying 'Ramadan Mubarak' or 'Ramadan Kareem.'
Any of our practices can be followed by a non-Muslim with many benefits. If you decide to fast, you will notice an overall health and mental balance improvements.
If Ramadan encourages you to pray as you believe, you will find more solace in your overall life quality.
If you have Muslim friends who observes Ramadan, you will benefit from their holy prayers for you and your family. You will also get to indulge in the most finest delicacies of Ramadan. Your taste buds will forever thank you.
Any help or assistance to Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan or for Ramadan preparations, will bring you tenfold blessings in your home and life. Ergo, help a Muslim out ;p

Religiously Yours,

ANEELA K.

RAMADAN KAREEM