Ramadan Mubarak! (Have a Blessed Ramadan)—After Covid by Jamilah Ali

It is Ramadan again for the Muslim ummah (community). May I refer you to my previous FAR article in 2020,  to reference Ramadan, because this is a bit of a sequel. I am only one example of how the positive and negative pressures of the times are impacting our psyches. I consider, how can I fast voluntarily while Palestinians are literally starving? This is a paradox I’m sure shared by many this year in the world-wide diaspora of Islam. I send prayers in addition to donations for food, of course.

For the faithful, Ramadan is a month-long celebration of the Holy Quran. Our Quran as revealed is from the Creator. We believe in the Bible and Torah as well, but they are much older than the Quran, and we acknowledge are from God but we believe corrupted by people.  This is why we call Christians and Jews “the People of the Book”. For us, the Quran is a special divine universal message which beckons every Muslims heart when recited. Instead of Christ for Christians, the Quran is our manifestation of Divinity. Muhammad and Jesus born 600 years apart, are both Messengers of Allah, but not divine.

Today was my first time in a brick-and-mortar masjid (mosque) since at least 2019 for jummah (Friday Prayers). I was so at home with the beautiful rainbow of sisters (and children), shoulder to shoulder in lines behind the brothers– which my friend and I both prefer over being in a separate room or floor.

Since Covid, the progressive Muslim zoom community is growing through MPV (Muslims for Progressive Values). Recently I met this radiant niqabi individual (covers the face, except the eyes) at an in-person MPV iftar event, and they impressed me with their purple niqab and righteous practice. So, I went to the masjid at their invitation, alhamdulilah (all praise is to God).

When I told them I’m Muslim since converting in 1989, they tell me, “you have been Muslim longer than I’ve been alive!” I was embarrassed that my practice of faith the rest of the year has become quite secular. I take no comfort in acknowledging that I’m primarily a Ramadan Muslim, meaning someone who is lazy about prayers and practice except during Ramadan. Of which I’m not proud, by the way, Astaughfirallah (I beg forgiveness of Allah).

So, I thought I would share about the fast this year for me, now in its second week and is becoming second nature. I awake for suhoor (pre-dawn breakfast) around 5 AM and start my fast when it’s time to make the fajr (dawn) prayer after making wudu (ablutions). I love to hear the chirping of birds in the early morning as I unfold my prayer rug to make two units of prayer.

Salat is the kind of prayer you all are used to seeing Muslims perform, prostrations with ritual supplications and reciting verses of the Quran. The other two kinds of prayers for Muslims are d’uas (hands with palms up, making personal prayers) and dzikr (remembrance of Allah) using speech such as saying inshallah (If it’s Gods will) or chanting or dancing to the 99 names of Allah.

When I became Muslim and took my shahada (the declaration of faith) I was surprised at how easily I was able to memorize quite a few short surahs (chapters in the Quran) in Arabic transliterations for my prayers. They say that to forget verses of the Quran is a sin. So, it must be God’s mercy that I am able to keep the beautiful poetry of the Quran in my head from year to year.

It is at the end of the fajr salat that I make my du’a that I intend to fast today in observance of the month of Ramadan. Making this intention is a requirement of the fast. Then, I pray for a permanent cease fire and end of the war in Palestine, and regular prayers for everyone else. Then finally, I make dzikr counting with dzikr beads (that look and feel like rosary beads) 33 times each; Subhanallah (Glorified is Allah), Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah), and Allah hu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).

After prayer I often go back to sleep for a few hours because if I can sleep some of the day away, the fast is a little less rigorous. I wake up to keep my mid-day prayer (Zuhr), and afternoon prayer (Asr). I also consider what I plan to have for the iftar (breaking the fast) meal.

After 7 PM (in my time zone) the Maghrib (sunset) prayer comes in, and we partake of food or drink with this du’a: “Oh Allah, we break this fast which we have made for your pleasure, with these, your provisions. Ameen”. Then we make our prayer and chow down, drinking lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Next, is my favorite part of Ramadan. Our Quran is divided into 30 segments called juz. A recommended part of worship is to read a juz every day, and during the 30 days of Ramadan the entire holy book can be completed. Since Covid 19, a group of us meet on zoom every evening taking turns reading the juz. It’s a wonderful on-line community and since reading is a form of worship, we are earning blessings, inshallah. (we are reading in English instead of doing Tarari prayers in Arabic at the masjid). When we read, the brothers and sisters alike change the “Him”s in the text to “God” or “Allah”, because Allah has no gender.

Thus, knowing Covid 19 came from God (everything both good and bad comes from God), I see the lessons learned and the life changes we have evolved. Incidentally, it’s reported during Ramadan that the gates of heaven are open, and the gates to hell are closed. So, expand your mind without fear. Thank you for reading.

BIO: Jamilah Ali: I am a recently retired Physician Assistant who worked in Community Medicine who hopes to write essays from my perspective as a progressive Muslim feminist. I currently live and vote in Maryland. I have a partner, a geriatric cat, and a grown son on the spectrum. Please check some of my work on Medium.