This year was about bringing people together. Many of us could finally sit next to each other in masjids all around the world. Look at each other, genuine smiles and happiness visible without the barrier of the mask. Some of us finally took in a breath of fresh air at the closest park near our homes. The moment some of us knew we could travel we hastened and journeyed for Umrah. We invited 9 individuals from diverse countries and ethnicities to share their personal stories with us during Ramadan.

Sharing The Spirit of Ramadan and The Essence of Eid

We have nothing but gratitude for the holy month. This world is a prison that we are currently serving our time in, to cleanse ourselves of the burdens before we spiritually ascend to Allah. It’s never too late to ask for forgiveness from one another or to ask for the ability to pray to Him fearlessly.

We would like to share a few touching quotes from the series that summarised how individuals feel when Ramadan dawns and bids farewell.

In the story Ramadan Around the World #2: Unveiling the Beauty of Islam, our Brazilian convert sister, Maryam Souza shared the story of her powerful sense of accomplishment during her first Ramadan nearly a decade ago: “The feeling that my heart was purified and my soul cleansed was a blessing. I had been endowed with the opportunity to start from scratch and all I wanted was to live long enough until the next Ramadan.” She mentioned with pride and a tad of sadness how no one could make her give up, even more so when the purpose was to please Allah and that she had already started missing everything about Ramadan.

In the story Ramadan Around The World #7: Gratitude for Allah’s Blessings, our French Brother Salah writes, “A wonderful trip that took place during the first week of March, which only strengthened our faith and beliefs as we embrace Ramadan this year. We only stayed there for a week and did not sleep much. However, despite the difficulty and fatigue, traveling to the house of Allah was really a liberation, we had the energy to do everything. It was an unexplainable phenomenon. “

This year many of us can finally leave to travel and meet our loved ones we may have not met in the past two years. Some may have lost their beloved, while some are experiencing unimaginable circumstances, struggling to make ends meet. 

While many parts of the world face chaos some of us are at the receiving end of consequences we cannot process or understand. 

In the story Ramadan Around the World #5: Displacement Devotion and Hope, our Afghan brother, Muhammed Imran shares a heartwarming note after escaping from Afghanistan last year as soon as it was taken over by the Taliban, “I shall be welcoming the blessed month in Germany for the first time ever. I am excited; unfortunately, I cannot say the same about Eid. I have left everything behind in Afghanistan. My family is not with me and my friends are still in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, there’s no chance to see them in near future. Some of the people have spent almost 10 to 15 years here and have not been able to meet their families. I can still see their faces, all my friends wearing the same clothes and shoes on Eid. I hope I’ll meet them soon, someday.”

Some stories are of ibadah, while some stories are of how faith can move mountains. In the story Ramadan Around the World #6: Reminisces of Ramadan and Raya in Riyadh, our Punjabi convert sister Rozinah, takes us through nostalgic experiences of her days as a young convert and a mother in 1983 in Riyadh. “I put my faith in Him and leave it. Alhamdulillah,” she says. She also adds her understanding from Surah Ibrahim [14:7],

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ

“And remember when your Lord proclaimed, ’If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more”

Embracing Eid

While Ramadan leaves us renewed every year, we realize the lifeless routines we succumb ourselves to only when we are honoured with the arrival of the holy month the following year. 

Allah, is All-Knowing and All-Giving. The fact is, our duas are restricted to our understanding but His bounties are infinite. Our human forms are incapable of perceiving all the blessings we are endowed with since the day we are put in the wombs of our mothers.

We keep searching for faults outside and blame others. But if we look around there is so much to be thankful for. Pandemics, wars, and oppression have savaged humanity since the beginning of time. Yet, through the storms, faint rays of light are a sign that the best is yet to come.

Maybe, we can make humble and positive intentions in our lifestyle and heart and continue praying to Allah;

To grant us peace in our hearts before we look for peace outside. 

To grant us the strength to fight the voice of Shaitaan within us before we can fight it outside.

To bless us with one more Ramadan and one more chance to repent, before You call us so that our soul is not shackled by sins, unable to rise to You.

As we bid adieu to Ramadan 1443H and embrace Eid, may we continue to practice and learn from our daily triumphs and failures as we strive to become better versions of ourselves. InshaAllah.

Ramadan Around The World 2022

Do take some time and read the touching and illuminating narratives by our contributors in The Ramadan Around The World series. Read and share this series with your loved ones and friends this Eid!

Ramadan Around The World #1: Haram Zakat and Humility

Ramadan Around The World #2: Unveiling the Beauty of Islam

Ramadan Around The World #3: Just Do It! Words of A Revert

Ramadan Around The World #4: Tenacious and Tender, Tawakkul of A Woman

Ramadan Around The World #5: Displacement, Devotion, and Hope

Ramadan Around The World #6: Reminisces of Ramadan and Raya in Riyadh

Ramadan Around The World #7: Gratitude for Allah’s Blessings

Ramadan Around The World #8: All Pathways Lead To The Heart And Home

Ramadan Around The World #9: Witnessing Beauty and Unity in Diversity Through Iftar