A member of Marhaba’s editorial team, Ola Diab, shares her experience about fasting during Ramadan

It seems just like yesterday when it was the first day of Ramadan. Honestly, I don’t want it to come to an end yet. Though I’ve been fasting for Ramadan for about 14 years – which is when I was around 8-years-old – it always feels like its the first time I’m fasting every Ramadan. If you take Ramadan seriously as a Muslim, you set higher goals every Ramadan, therefore each year, Ramadan is a different and new experience.

My past Ramadans

readquranEvery year during Ramadan, in addition to fasting and praying, I used to read the Quran at least two hours a day, attend Taraweeh daily after Iftar and read Surat Al Baqara on Fridays. In recent years, however, I have stopped doing so because honestly, I feel like I’ve drifted away from my faith. About two to three Ramadans ago, I completed reading the holy Quran’s 114 chapters and over 6,000 verses for the first time in my life. It brought me great satisfaction. However, I never did that again unfortunately. But that’s on my to-do list for next Ramadan. My mother and a few friends complete reading the holy book every Ramadan.

What’s different or new this Ramadan?

This Ramadan, I looked forward to reconnecting with my faith and God. I chose not only to read the Quran but attempt to interpret it. However, although my mother tongue language is Arabic, I consider it to be my second language and English to be my first. Fortunately, just a few weeks before Ramadan, I was given a Quran with English translation. Although not daily, I read pages of the Quran with the intent to truly understand Islam and its teachings. As embarrassing as this might be to mention, but I just discovered, for the first time, what Ramadan marks in the Islamic calender. Ramadan, specifically Laylat Al Qadr, is when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Now I understand why they call it the ‘holy’ month of Ramadan. I always knew the story of revelation of the Quran when the angel Gabriel, or Jibril, came to Prophet Muhammad at the Hira cave on Mount Nur in Mecca with Surat Al Alaq, the first Surah or verse of the Quran. But I never knew this event occurred in the month of Ramadan. Before that, I thought Ramadan was just randomly chosen to be the ‘holy’ month. It’s important to note that in the 19 years I’ve spent in Qatar, I’ve only attended American and English schools with weak Arabic and religion classes. When I told my mother about this recent discovery, she was shocked and therefore gave my siblings and I daily lessons about the basics of Islam. Near Iftar time, we’d also watch on Qatar TV a show which teaches the basics of Islam in the form of a competition.

This Ramadan, for the first time, I did not listen to music. Oddly, it wasn’t a challenge at first but towards the end, it became a little more difficult. So I have to admit, I gave in but I was still committing to the challenge, making sure I only listen to music after Iftar and only halal music, meaning music that is clean or pure without cursing or that is sex-related. So I definitely wasn’t listening to Nicki Minaj. You really do feel a difference. You feel smarter and more at peace actually.

As I recently joined the employment world almost a year ago, this Ramadan marks the first time I’ve paid my zakat. One of the five zakatpillars of Islam, zakat is the payment made annually under Islamic law (2.5% of your savings) on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes. It doesn’t necessarily have to be paid during Ramadan but anytime before Eid Al Fitr. I was running an errand at Villaggio when I remembered it’s time pay my zakat before it’s too late so I approached one of Qatar Charity’s booths at Villaggio and told the man sitting at the booth that I wanted to pay my zakat. I honestly didn’t understand what I was doing so he was kind enough to explain the process of paying zakat to me. I told him how much I have saved thus far and he calculated the amount I’m required to pay in front me – once I approved, I paid the amount and then he gave me a receipt. That was it! I paid my zakat in 10 minutes. Absolutely simple! A beautiful feeling of peace overcame me after I paid my zakat especially after seeing how grateful the man at the booth was, thanking me with a substantial amount ofduaa, or prayer.

Events and activities during Ramadan

Whether you’re Muslim or non-Muslim, the shorter working hours is what everyone loves about Ramadan. You have more time to relax and live your life. Besides using the extra time to catch up on some American TV shows, I allocated sometime to learning new skills in the kitchen, spending time with the family and reading the Quran.

In Ramadan, dining out is a common tradition (not religious). That’s why you see all these iftar and suhour offers at hotels and restaurants in Qatar. My family and I dine out at hotels and restaurants but only on special occasions. We spent much of Ramadan having iftar outside of our home but also with other family members at their homes. Although it’s exhausting because it could be a gathering of 20 or more people, these gatherings are one of the most joyous moments of Ramadan. Like a potluck, each guest brings a dish with him/her, then – either before or after iftar – everyone comes together and prays in a group. It’s also very common to have people come over to your home for iftar during Ramadan – sometimes, even uninvited. In our home, we have guests for iftar at least three times a week, be it family or friends. And the best part is, during Ramadan, only the traditional food and juices come out. It’s culturally enriching, especially if you’re an Arab Muslim expatriate here.

mosque-prayerAfter iftar, Muslims in Qatar head out to pray Taraweeh, which is an extra and voluntary prayer performed with the Isha prayer during Ramadan at night, which lasts for 40-50 minutes. Personally – and unfortunately – I don’t pray Taraweeh. As I said earlier, I used to but no longer do so. However, my family members do. On the last 10 days of Ramadan, after Taraweeh, Muslims pray Qiyam Al Liyal as well, which is also a voluntary prayer which involves long standings, in which long portions of the Quran are recited. I don’t remember having ever prayed Qiyam. That’s something to try next Ramadan.

Katara and Souq Waqif are the main attractions during Ramadan. Although absolutely crowded and noisy – especially Souq Waqif – these two places make you feel quite alive. Being very cultural and traditional, Katara and Souq Waqif are great Ramadan destinations. With its Christmas-like decorations, Katara this year has outdone itself.

What’s after Ramadan?

Looking back at the month of Ramadan, I feel like I could have done better. I could have dedicated more time to praying and reading the Quran. However, I’m still satisfied having learned new things about Islam this Ramadan. It was also the first time I’ve stayed up all night until sunrise for Laylat Al Qadr, reading the Quran.

The lessons you learn during Ramadan don’t just pertain to the holy month. You’re suppose to hold on to the lessons throughout your lifetime. And that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to start with dedicating more time to God by putting more effort to reading and understanding the Quran on Fridays for as long as I can. For next Ramadan, I aim to reread the Quran, and attend the Taraweeh and Qiyam prayers.

And now, I welcome Eid Al Fitr with excitement. On that note, Eid Mubarak!