Beyond the religious rituals of Ramadan
KUWAIT: It’s that time of the year when you take the chance to finally pause, break away from your daily routine, and fully immerse yourself in 30 days of faith, spirituality and unity with Muslims from all around the world. It is the month of embracing inner peace and letting go of the negativity that has been bottled up all year long. In essence, this is what Ramadan is mostly about, as expressed by people interviewed by Kuwait Times.
“It’s not just about praying or fasting, but it goes beyond that,” Fatima Shamoon said. She spoke of the transformation in the entire environment and demeanor of people during this month, where everyone shares the same feelings of tolerance, patience, and kindness. “It’s true that on a religious level, this month is one of the most important occasions for all Muslims, but on a humanitarian level, it also teaches us so much and cleanses our souls so deeply,” she added.
Shamoon admires the fact that during this time, everyone’s focus is redirected toward one goal: Becoming the best versions of themselves as Muslims. “During the rest of the year, we are all busy chasing worldly pleasures, but in this month, we want to give our all.” Shamoon believes that the strong bond developed with the Creator during Ramadan brings people together, transcending any differences.
Rudina Ghanem echoed Shamoon’s sentiments, emphasizing the indescribable sense of connectedness experienced during the holy month. “It makes me happy to know that we are all nearly following the same practices at the same time for 30 days,” she said, referencing rituals such as performing tarawih prayers, breaking the fast (iftar), the predawn meal (suhoor) and reading the Holy Quran, which are among the most popular good deeds undertaken during Ramadan.
From that perspective, she explained how the supportive atmosphere of shared faith and common goals motivates her to embrace new religious routines and let go of sinful ones, which she can’t easily do at any other time of the year. “Every Ramadan, I concentrate on one aspect of my religious rituals to improve, ensuring I practice it every day for 30 days. Eventually, it becomes a habit integrated into my daily life,” she noted.
Ghanem shared examples of new habits she developed from past Ramadans, such as adhering to the sunnahs of prayers and dressing more modestly. Expanding on this, Shamoon contemplated the potential positive impact if everyone approached Ramadan with a similar mindset. “Imagine if each person kept striving to become slightly better than they are, slightly more charitable, or slightly more giving,” she reflected, envisioning the significant increase in generosity and compassion that would spread in the world.
Notably, the profound impact of Ramadan extends from the spiritual aspect to all life aspects, seamlessly bringing them into harmony. Zainab Al-Mashoor highlighted that Ramadan allows her to allocate her effort and time evenly between prioritizing her worship of God, enjoying quality time with family and addressing daily responsibilities like work and cooking. Shamoon agreed on this point. “The routine of this month proves that all aspects of life can be balanced, and tasks can be completed, even while fasting and fulfilling our prayer and family obligations,” Shamoon observed, adding, “The world moves beautifully during Ramadan.”