By Anwar 

Nope, not even water, but trust me when I say, that’s okay!! That question typically comes along with a negative connotation, but let me tell you, Ramadan is undoubtably my favorite time of the year. No question. Yes, no food or water for nearly 17 hours a day for 30 days straight, and it’s my favorite time of the year. Just based off of hearing that, you probably think I’m crazy. It’s only because Ramadan is beyond that, waaaaaaaaaaaay way way beyond that. This time of year brings people together, not just over a sunset meal, but at the mosque as well. People you haven’t seen since the previous Ramadan, you see again in Ramadan. You catch up like you never left off. There’s just something different about the air. I swear I’m not crazy, I can’t be the only one that thinks that. I mean if you know what katayef are (a middle eastern dessert usually only made in Ramadan), well even they taste especially amazing during Ramadan. In fact, I can only eat them during Ramadan! It’s really an unexplainable feeling, but if I have to put in into words, it’s beyond glorious. 
Working during Ramadan, whether it be during school time or during the summer working summer jobs, non-Muslims are always mesmerized at the fact that we can’t have anything to eat or drink. Trust me, it’s harder some days than others, but the gratefulness you’re taught and the patience you gain for having what you have is honestly a wonderful, grateful feeling. I mean, I fast for 17 hours a day knowing that by sunset, I’ll be breaking my fast to a five-star Palestinian meal. What do others have? What do those boys and girls and mothers and fathers in third world countries have? They barely have access to fresh, clean water, and that’s EVERYDAY. I’m restricted from food, water, and worldly temptations for a few hours each day for 30 days and then I’m rewarded at the end of each day. I thank God everyday, but for me, I know it’s not enough. I could thank him more. I know I could. His blessings and mercy are beyond imaginable. So please, don’t feel bad when I cannot eat or drink for a few hours each day. I enjoy it. I gain so much reward out of it. Yes it’s hard sometimes, especially during these summer months, but it’s not meant to be easy. It’s meant to allow us to sympathize with those who struggle everyday. Those who have limited resources. I’m blessed and grateful by the Almighty that I have access to fresh drinking water at sunset. It’s those little blessings that we overlook everyday that we become so thankful for. Another thing, please please please don’t feel bad when you have to eat or drink in front of me. Do your thing. It’s okay! I promise! I get rewarded for that too! 😊 When I tell you His mercy is endless, it truly is. 

“Well, what if you’re sick? What if you have medications to take? What if this? What if that?” Trust me. I understand. These are all good questions, but they come with a logical answer. God never meant for us to fast and suffer or risk your life in the process of Ramadan. If you can’t handle fasting due to a valid reason, you just don’t fast. It’s especially tough for diabetics or women who are pregnant, or those seriously ill. God has answers to everything. If you’re caught in a bind or seriously unsure, seek and Imam or Sheikh to help you, but keep in mind, be mindful and be logical. 

Oh Ramadan, the glorious 9th month of the Lunar year of the Islamic Calendar. It’s a time of year when the gates of hell are closed and the glory doors of Jannah have opened. A time when God, day and night, night and day, gives us the opportunities to better ourselves through fasting from the worldly matters of this Earth. A time when prayers are answered, God’s servants seek his forgiveness, and because his mercy is beyond the greatness we can imagine, our deeds are granted as blessings beyond our knowledge. God’s mercy is undeniably endless. It’s up to us to create that foundation to become better, recharge, refuel, and strive for living life to please the one and only Almighty. 

Ramadan refuels the the mind, body, and soul. It teaches you patience, thankfulness, personal struggle, steering away from temptations, and really focusing on one main thing that collectively brings all these ideas together. The one thing that sums up the meaning of Ramadan in a nutshell, and that’s one’s relationship with Allah (God). Establishing a connection with God during this holy month especially, is so amazing. I mean just hearing the recitation of Quran or reading from the Quran, you just feel a special kind of connection. Like God’s word is literally right there. The same message spoke to those before us, 1400+ years ago. It’s quite a miracle within it’s self. I’ll be honest with you, I wish I devoted more time to God’s book prior to and after Ramadan as much as I do during. I still have to establish that balance. For me, my struggle now is balancing that spiritual high I’m on during Ramadan with life after Ramadan. Summer makes that tough. Its tough because during the summer, I feel I have more balance and will to commit myself to my faith. I absolutely enjoy Ramadan during the summer months. I feel like I’m in Palestine. My nights become days and my days become nights. You’re up at 3 a.m. and it feels so normal. You’re at the mosque for countless hours, surrounded by amazing people and it’s such a beautiful thing, and then as soon as Eid (Islamic holiday commemorating the end of Ramadan) is over, all of a sudden everything naturally takes a halting stop. It’s so depressing. It’s like going through terrible separation anxiety. And for those who know me, I generally struggle with that. A LOT. It’s so tough. Ramadan leaves you for 11 more months. So much transpires in that 11 months. Ups and downs, and all you want is stability, stability with devoting your life to God, and Ramadan naturally allows for that. I hate to say I rely on Ramadan, but I do. I think most can agree with me. That’s why it’s so hard finding that balance. I need to find a balance and maintain it. I need to make this daily commitment to Allah. Praying 5 times a day everyday, just simply isn’t enough. Gosh, just writing about Ramadan, I realize we’re nearly near the half way point. I mean let’s be honest, IT’S FLYING BY 😭. 
Although during the summer months, Ramadan has long days and short nights, it honestly goes by like a blink of an eye. As Ramadan nears the midpoint and then eventually an end, I want you all to join me. Let’s make our mark, and find an equalizing balance for until next Ramadan. We will most likely have an uphill, down hill struggle, but I rather leave and meet with Ramadan 2018 knowing we tried. May Allah grant us purity, patience, guidance, and ease between this Ramadan and the next, and may he unite us all each Ramadan in which we all positively come together and benefit from one another. Ameen. Peace and blessings to you all. 
My Greatest Regards, 
Anwar 😊

P.S. Let’s be real here. One of the biggest struggles is grocery shopping during Ramadan. Those Swiss Rolls that you told yourself you’d never eat again, all of a sudden look amazing. 😭 

By Esraa 

What is it with three a.m.? It seems like I get the writing bug around this time most nights.  Here I am sitting in my room, in Pittsburgh, while the entire world is sleeping, typing away this next blog. I hope you are all ready for this, because a big rant may be coming your way. My eyes may just get stuck in the back of my head from the amount of times I will roll my eyes while reliving these memories. Here I am in college, getting ready to go to my classes and by some random chance, I chose today to wear pants. It just may seem that the world has ended, Esraa is wearing pants. I repeat ESRAA IS WEARING PANTS! Make sure when you see her, you comment about it, while you’re at it, snap a picture! Maybe I’m a little bit over dramatic, I’ll admit, but this is how it feels in my head.  

It seems like everyone I meet along the way will say, “Wow, I have never seen you wear pants before,” or jokingly… I think: “Bent Al sheikh is wearing pants.” The eye is rolling. I would tell them “why don’t you take a picture so you can document it in history?” I kid you not, many did! At the moment I laugh, I know it’s all fun and games. However, in my head, an entirely different reaction is happening. Most likely the person I’m having this conversation with is wearing pants. I’m not freaking out, why are you? 

See this scenario above mostly happens with my friends, so it doesn’t bother me as much as the next scenario. I get it, it’s a shock; I rarely wore pants. I preferred the flow of skirts, and many times I wore an Abaya to school {a traditional Islamic dress}. For me to randomly walk in one day, in pants, was out of the norm. Their reactions made me more and more uncomfortable to wear pants again, I would think ten times before I did. 

Now, this scenario Is where I have a major problem. The older generation of the community. If it happened once, it happened a few million times. They will see me randomly in the store as I hurriedly shop for a particular thing or two, or by some chance, I have stopped by the masjid to give my father something.  Low and behold!  Esraa is wearing pants! I can see it in their eyes when they look me up and down, the judgment in their tone as they comment on my choice of dress. Many times, I’d hear it at home when one lady would tell my mom, that she saw Esraa in the store and she was wearing pants. Yup, I think my eyes just got stuck there.

They made me want to scream! Did they not understand what they were doing? That at times this made me feel like rebelling. I would wear pants out of my comfort just to prove a point. It was ridiculous. Who were you to pass that judgment? Wasn’t it a little hypocritical that you felt the need to make this an issue as you stood before me in your pants? 

Why? Because I was Bent Al Shiekh? Aren’t we both Muslim? If it wasn’t allowed for me, then it’s sure as heck wasn’t allowed for you. Who set these standards and rules that I needed to follow? What right was given to you to determine the way I dressed? I followed my dress code based on the teachings of my faith; those were the rules I followed. Pants were a rare thing to me, because modesty was a major key in the way my parents raised me, and in my personal preference. When I wore pants, I made sure my shirts were long. I don’t need to defend myself to anyone; my only judge is God. 

So, what the heck is your point Esraa? We get it, we shall never comment on your pants again. Well, if this is your train of thought, firstly I thank you.  But, my point here is, while you think what you are doing isn’t that big of a deal and that it may be a joke or some weird kind of concern, keep in mind the undeserved pressure you place upon us, “Children of the Shiekh.” Very recently I got to know about a girl I knew while growing up; she was a daughter of Shiekh, as well. I was saddened to hear about the route she had taken in her life, and I pray to God to bring her back to clarity, but this is what can happen when the judgment and pressure gets too much. We, as the Muslim community, need to work on being more accepting, forgiving and welcoming. My rant is coming to an end, and my eyes are rolling back to place. Thanks for taking the time to read. 

Peace out, 

Esraa 
P.S I type this as I’m wearing pants…