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RAMADAN DIARY Day 2 Wow! These past two days have been very busy. Yesterday was the first day of fasting and it was so hard! I always find the first and last day of Ramadan the most difficult. It seems like the day stretches on forever. I’m always so happy to hear the radio presenter’s voice telling the listeners that it’s time for iftaar! We broke our fast at my mum’s house yesterday. There was so much food. Too much, in fact. We spent half the day cooking. I come from a Lebanese background so mum’s always insisted on a variety of food for iftaar. We have to have a soup, fried potatoes, a salad, some macaroni with yoghurt, then the main meal or two or three!! Today I was thinking about why we do this. We had so many leftovers after our meal that I felt guilty. I hate to admit it but some of that food eventually gets thrown out. Here we are with all this food that we can’t eat and so many others have to struggle to put to gather a meal. I read today that we’re supposed to learn self-restraint during fasting. We can do it no problem during the day, but when iftaar comes round we forget all about this and overdo it with the amount of food we make! Well this year one of my goals for Ramadan is to cut down on food. I’ll have to speak to mum about it too. Here’s a list of some of my other goals: q Wake up for Suhuur every day. q Read Quran everyday and try to read most of it by the end of the month. q Eat less food! q Learn something new. q Pray taraweeh. Hopefully I’ll achieve most of these goals. See you or talk to you or … whatever! Day 7 Guess what? I’ve been waking up for suhuur for the past few days and I’ve even had something to eat! Each year I usually skip this meal and only wake up a few times throughout the month. I feel quite proud of myself and I hope I have the willpower to keep this up for the rest of Ramadan. Even though I feel like a zombie in the morning, I actually feel quite good inside. I’m doing something good for myself – I get to read quran and pray fajar and I don’t usually do that. Day 10 I can’t believe that ten days have passed already. That’s one third of Ramadan that has passed. I wonder if I’ve gained as many hasanat that I could have in these first few days. There are only 20 days left until Eid. I hate to admit it but at the beginning of Ramadan I was actually mentally counting down the days until Eid. Now I don’t think I want it to end! My friend was telling me about how many hasanat we can get when fasting and how we can increase them by doing numerous things such as extra prayers and reading quran. It’s amazing just how generous Allah swt can be if only people are willing to accept this generosity. It’s so easy to gain hasanat! How lucky we are to be given the opportunity to fast Ramadan. It’s like Ramadan is a treasure chest full of beautiful things for those who are willing to look for it. Wow! That was very deep. My head is hurting – it’s not used to me thinking so hard. I think I’ll need a rest! Day 14 Hey! Today I was invited for iftaar at my friend Fatima’s house and we had such a great time. The kids really enjoyed themselves and I think they realised that Ramadan is not just about food. We started by breaking our fast with a date and some water and then prayed magrib straight away (I hardly ever do that). I thought that I would be thinking about food whilst praying but funnily enough I wasn’t. Once the prayer was finished we ate all the yummy food my friend had prepared. I was happy to see that she hadn’t overdone it! After iftaar it was a miracle to see that the men actually helped clear some of the mess away before they left for the mosque! Wow – I’m still getting over my shock! Anyway, once the men left we were able to relax and listen to some anashid. My kids enjoyed this part the most as they got to join in with the singing. Later we read some quran and Fatima was able explain it to the children in simple terms. They were fascinated and didn’t want to leave. I wonder why I can never get them to become so interested when I’m teaching them quran? It must have been the fact that everyone was gathered around and that even the adults were involved too. It was nice to see that some people don’t just forget about Ramadan once they’ve broken their fast and that they don’t turn to the telly to keep them company for the rest of the evening! I think I’ll make anashid a more regular occurrence at our house. Well, I have to go and get some sleep as I’ve got to prepare iftaar tomorrow for some guests. Later diary! Day 15 Hi. Not feeling too well today. I’m exhausted and upset that my iftaar did not go to plan. I ran around like a chook with its head cut off all day and I haven’t sat down until now! What upset me the most was the way my guests behaved after we finished eating. Don’t get me wrong, they were very helpful in the kitchen but it was the way they were speaking of others that was not nice! They kept talking about others and bringing up their bad qualities. It gave me such a headache! This is not supposed to be happening during such a special month. I was saddened to see that these people had forgotten that fasting is not only abstaining from eating but also from bad qualities such as backbiting. I’m sure that I have heard somewhere that we must make up 70 excuses for somebody’s bad behaviour before speaking ill of them. I will have to find this hadith and maybe send it to my friends as a small hint. Do you think that is wise? Do you think it is any of my business? Would you tell somebody about a sin they have committed or would you just leave it? Look at me – I’m asking a paper questions!! It’s not going to answer! Oh dear! Day 18 Did you know that the battle of Badr took place on the 18th day of Ramadan in the year 624? (Of course you didn’t know – you’re just a diary! Or are you more than just a diary?? Mmmm?) Anyway (I think fasting may be having a weird effect on me today) I thought that this was something I should write about as it just amazed me how strong willed the prophet Muhammad (S) and his men were. They were fasting, thirsty and greatly outnumbered and still managed to win the battle. Subhaanallah! It is something to envy. I fight a battle each day – I have three children and still can’t get them to obey my orders!! Day 23 Hi again. I’m really starting to feel like a zombie now but I know it’s all for a good cause. I’ve been trying extra hard to finish the quran and now I’m not sure if I will. I do this every year. I get caught up with work and family and day-to-day life that I end up running out of time. I’m trying to make up for it though. As you know (not really you don’t – diary!) the last ten days of Ramadan are quite special. Laylat-ul-qadr will fall on one of the odd numbered nights of these ten days so I’m planning to stay up (as much as I possibly can) for each of these odd nights. I’ve already started and it felt good. I prayed taraweeh and read hadith too. I didn’t stay up as long as I planned too as I was so tired but at least I tried. Got to go now – I have to do some catch-up reading! Day 28 Hello diary. I’m very excited that Eid is almost here but at the same time I’m going to miss Ramadan. It’s such a shame that it passes so quickly. I feel like I haven’t done enough. I pray to Allah (Swt) that I will live to see another Ramadan so that I get another chance of gaining rewards. Everyone is making plans about what they will do after this month ends. It seems they have forgotten Ramadan already. I’m too sad to continue. Day 29 Everyone is talking about Eid now – when is it?? Why do we never agree on this? Did they sight the moon? Who saw it first? Did they sight it in a country halfway across the world? Should we follow their example? Is the moon round or is it square? How ridiculous for us to argue over something simple. I just wish that all Muslims in Australia would just celebrate Eid on the same day. A bit of wishful thinking I guess. Well I’m just trying to get everything done in time for it. Seeing as I have supernatural powers, I’ll be able to spring clean the house (and the children), buy new clothes for every member of the family (and please them all), bake sweets and treats, stock the fridge and cook dinner all in the space of one or two days! More wishful thinking!! This year I’m even making lolly bags for my daughter to give her class at school. It was a great idea I found in this wonderful magazine called The Message. Have you heard of it? Eid-ul-Fitr We had a great day today. I managed to make it to the Eid prayer and the kids have eaten a record amount of lollies. They made so much money today that they could open up their own business! I’ll make sure that they give some of it as zakaat (to me as I’ve gone broke). I’ve made it! I survived the month of Ramadan without too much trouble and I think I even learnt a few things too (or did I?). I think I was able to achieve most of my goals and gain new experiences. I’m glad my friend encouraged me to keep a diary as it really made me reflect on myself and on the efforts I make during Ramadan. I think I will do this again next year if Allah (Swt) wills. Ramadan and Eid Mubarak to all. I hope this month finds you in good health and prosperity. Remember to make good use of all the rewards available to you during Ramadan. By Meyrnah Khodr |
