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I was 10 years old when I completed my first month of fasting in Ramadan. 10 sounds pretty young for a kid to go an entire day without food or water (yes, not even water) but the days were a lot shorter back then. Muslims follow a lunar calendar which means, each year Ramadan goes back approximately 11 days.
What does Ramadan mean to you?
Everyone has their own unique perspective on what Ramadan means to them as it’s a special time in so many ways. Fasting for me is a practice used to increase consciousness and ultimately, become closer to God. It’s a form of self-discipline to abstain from food, drink and other acts that would lead one to breaking their fast.
People have come out with great, innovative products and services surrounding Ramadan to help us stay motivated or prepare for fasting. My cousin bought me a ‘Ramadan Journal’ for this year where I write down daily goals, read a daily motivational quote and even keep track of how much water I’ve drunk that day!
Has lockdown and the pandemic affected the way you’re celebrating this year?
Fasting during a global pandemic has certainly changed aspects of what a ‘normal’ Ramadan would look usually look like. For starters, our iftar (the meal to break fast at sunset) is a lot less lavish because my parents and I have no one to impress with our cooking skills. Technically, this a good thing as our Prophet teaches us the beauty in simplicity and modesty. I save time on getting ready to go to meetings and events because most of us are still working from home. I also have more time in the evenings to myself because I’m not meeting up with friends after iftar to grab dessert.
Although it appears in theory that I have all this extra time, this Ramadan has been one of the busiest months of the year so far. Balancing working on projects with creating content and family life - all whilst fasting has felt overwhelming at times.
I anticipated a more peaceful Ramadan this year as last year was actually one of the best Ramadan’s I’ve experienced. As the UK came to a standstill when the first wave hit us, slowing down, work-wise was a detox I think many of us needed. Detoxing both physically from food and water as well as from work and unnecessary social events made it an extra special Ramadan for me to help reconnect and focus on what’s important.
How are you staying connected to your friends and family this year given it’s tricky to see them in person?
Staying connected with everyone is very important for me, because life can honestly take over and social interaction with those we love shouldn’t be neglected. This month, I’ve been working on a diary-style content series called #FastTalks, using the Portal from Facebook, and although I’m creating content which is technically ‘work’, I genuinely get to stay in touch with my family and friends in the process as even when I’m video calling them, it makes it seem as though they’re in the room with me.
In the process of writing this, it’s made me more conscious of how I’m using my time during Ramadan. This month only comes around once a year and despite us still being in the midst of a pandemic, mosques and outdoor dining have opened up which gives us some hope of ‘normality’.
There are always things we can find gratitude in no matter how bad a situation may appear outwardly. In this case, the good taken from staying connected with technology, spending more time with our families at home and appreciating that often less is more are all things to be grateful for.