'I learn more about teachings of Islam in Ramadan'

Name: Mariah Siddiqui; Nationality: Indian; Age: 26 years; Profession: Financial Analyst

Since I was a child, I have watched my parents and cousins around me fast during the holy month of Ramadan and words cannot explain how excited the thought of fasting would make me.
Today, I can say that it was by watching my parents' sheer love, devotion and commitment to this blessed month, with each passing Ramadan, I have developed a kind of special fondness for it.
Till today, even on an empty stomach, I watch my mother cook our favourite dishes just so that we enjoy our Iftars and feel healthy and satisfied at the end of our meals.
I remember as a child, I would rush to the table of lavish Iftar snacks (all homemade) just minutes before the Azaan (not to mention I still do it), and grab all the yummy goodies before anyone else could get their hands on them. As I lived in a joint family then, Iftars were a celebration every single day.
Being almost the youngest child in our family, I recall running to my grandfather at the table and watch him specifically look for pieces of bananas in the huge bowl of fruit chaat as that was my favourite fruit, which he would then give me with so much love. Coming really late, but I would like to thank all the women in our family, especially my mother, as I have watched her cook for the family through her heart, and not her hands.
Even though through a compulsory requirement, this month has never failed to teach me the real meaning of Taqwa (God-consciousness) by feeling the pain of the needy. Never have I come out of the month not feeling more in love with the teachings of Islam and the Holy Quran, purely based on willfully spending time to learn more.
Yes, we all believe fasting teaching us self control, but beyond that what it also teaches us is that happiness comes from the tiniest of things in life - like a cup of coffee in the morning, the value of which I only realise when I cannot have it.
On a typical day of fasting, mornings tend to be the roughest as I have to get up for work. Being a latte lover, I don't typically rise and "shine" every morning - it's more of a rise and "whine" sort of moment for me! Nevertheless, it's by being deprived of these basic essentials which I clearly take for granted that I for instance, feel the pangs felt by birds that fly high in the summer skies and keep on looking down in the hope of finding a mug of water kept out in someone's balcony. Again, the purpose is that we tend to understand the feelings of others by stepping in their shoes and feeling what they go through. It's not just about hunger; its true essence lies in experience.
What I really appreciate about the culture in Dubai is how we celebrate the spirit of Ramadan together. I am blessed to work in a company where everyone respects the month and goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable and easy about it. My work timings are very flexible and my boss is understanding enough to let me work from home when I feel the need to do so. It's through these actions you feel that the purpose of Ramadan is already being accomplished. Completely ignoring what religion they follow, I go over either to my friends' places, or we are out at restaurants for Iftars. I can always feel the unity, harmony, respect and love when I observe non-Muslims refrain from eating till the call for prayer (Azaan) is heard.
Ramadan is just a beautiful glimpse of what our minds and souls are capable of accomplishing on a daily basis, not only through fasting and feeling the pain of the needy, but also through abstaining from things as small as backbiting/using foul language. We completely surrender ourselves to the Almighty in these 30 special days. I personally feel that by abstaining from eating food, and instead feeding our souls with good deeds implies another realm of untapped potential where we have the ability to carry forward our detoxed manner of life beyond just the month of Ramadan.
(As told to Saman Haziq)

• Ramadan News
• Dubai