Growing up in America Ramadan has been challenging. Being a born Muslim all I knew growing up was, that we must fast, but I didn’t know exactly why. Alhamdullilah I obeyed my parents, and it felt great to fast, but I didn’t understand the true meaning of Ramadan. Due to not understanding I didn’t await Ramadan, it actually felt like a burden every time it came. AstughfirAllaah. This is why I am writing this article.

Alhamdullilah Allaah (SWT) has blessed me to learn about this beautiful religion of ours. It is due to understanding Ramadan that now I can’t wait until Ramadan arrives, and yet I am saddened when it begins, for I feel it will end so quickly. My experience is a bit different at this time because we have no family close by us. Alhamdullilah. When you have Allaah (SWT) by your side, that is all that you need. This alone should fill up your whole heart, and anything extra like great Muslim neighbors or friends are an extra blessing that was given to us.

What do I do to prepare for Ramadan? First my family and I decide on how we want to decorate for Ramadan. We make a welcome banner to welcome Ramadan, and lots of other cute, and simple decorations and post them all around the house. Next, we make Ramadan goals for ourselves. We make a list of 5 things that we want to accomplish by the end of Ramadan, inshAllaah. For example, memorize 2 new Surrah’s, memorize the 99 names of Allaah (SWT), etc. We do this goal usually as a family, so that we are all successful, inshAllaah.

For Suhoor, we make up normal time as we do for Tajjud prayers, and we pray first, then I make everyone what they wish to eat, and then we have our Suhoor while we chat as a family, then we clean up and get ready for Fajr prayer.

After that we decide that we will not spend alot of time cooking, working, or being pre-occuppied by others.  I have to make more time doing Ibadah, and spending it with my kids by reading Ramadan stories, Iftar stories, Quraan stories, Zakkat stories, etc.  I want to immerse them into Islam by reading with them as well as taking lots of actions this month, inshAllaah.  Actions by being nice to one another, making food and giving it to neighbors, giving Zakkat and Saddaqa to the poor, calling family members and wishing them a happy Ramadan, visiting the sick, and helping in any way that we can to help ease the burdens of others for the sake of Allaah (SWT).

As for Iftar, we try to make one simple dish to eat, and most of the times we will cook extra to give to the neighbors.  We all know that we get full quickly especially when we fast, so we try to eat less, and just enjoy the month.  We break our fast with a date, then we pray our Maghib prayers, then we eat our Iftar. Alhamdullilah. When the kids fast, we make them their favorite dish when they request it.  We also try to give them an additional sweet if we can, just to express that we are so proud of them for doing this.

Every night my husband goes for Taraweh prayers, but since my boys are still young, and get restless, my daughter and I pray Taraweh at home together.  Alhamdullilah…My favorite part of Ramadan is the last 10 Days.  My husband takes it off of work as vacation and spends it in Itikaaf at the Masjid, while my daughter and I try to stay up as late as we can, and listen to Quran, read Islamic books, listen to lectures, do dhikhr, prayers, etc.

That is my Ramadan experience…I pray that Allaah (SWT) accepts all of our good deeds and Ibadah!  Ameen

By Zohra Sarwari – Muslim Life Coach/Author/International Speaker