Ramadan brings sweet smells, sentiments

By Suzy Abu-nie
Coordinator, Worldlink TV

Posted: Dec. 6, 2002

I love the soft feel of the date in my mouth -- the date being the first thing we eat to break our fast.

I love the smell of my mother’s vegetable soup that sits in the middle of the table. I love the smells, the feel, the traditions, of Ramadan.

Every meal in my home, as in other Muslim homes, starts with dates followed by soup, then a hearty meal, and then Ramadan desserts!

During Ramadan we make special sweets, like katayif, a pancake-like dessert sprinkled with black seeds, filled with walnuts, dates or white cheese, wrapped and sealed. It is smothered with homemade Arabic butter and dipped in a homemade syrup-glaze flavored with rose water, the aroma that fills the kitchen.

Just what is it that brings these sweets and smells and sentiments?

This is Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and one of the pillars of Islam. Every year it begins on a different day. As Muslims, we fast for 30 wonderful days, from sunrise to sunset. Our bodies endure internal purification during fasting. Our souls become closer to God. We gain sympathy for people all over the world who suffer every day from hunger.

That is why we fast. That is why I love Ramadan. Not only does it bring me closer to God, spiritually, but it brings me closer to those who truly suffer.

During the month of Ramadan we put our Qur’nic tape in the tape player, listen to the sounds of a sheik reciting the poetic verses of the Holy Qur’an, and we wait for the beautiful sun to set.

And then we say a prayer and have Iftar, or breaking of the fast.

This scene happens during Ramadan in Muslim households all over the United States.

"How is it possible not to eat and drink anything for so many hours?" some of my non-Muslim friends ask.

I tell them it is possible because we have been fasting for thousands of years. Many have fasted in the desert as well.

Ramadan is all about the discipline that you learn as a child when your parents first encourage you to fast for a few hours, a few more hours, and then to fast for the whole day.

It also is about the daily reminder of our spirituality -- the closeness of each Muslim to one another. Ramadan is a time when Muslims collectively celebrate God and embrace the Qur’an -- the Muslim Holy Book -- one big Muslim family from all over the world.

Our big family of Muslims range in color, culture, language and mother tongue. Yet, in the eyes of God, we are all the same.

When we go for special prayers, called Taraweeh, we all pray together as one family. In fact, the Arabic word for the Muslim place of workshop, "Jama’," means group or gathering.

After breaking our fast, we pray the Taraweeh at the local mosque, or Jama’, with family and friends. We also bring food and desserts for less fortunate Muslim families. It is an incredible feeling, to pray with so many of Muslim brothers and sisters who come from different countries.

I love this time of the year. As Muslims, we look forward to celebrating Ramadan just as people of other faiths celebrate their religious traditions. Inshallah! Muslims will celebrate Ramadan, wherever they are in this wide world.

For more information on Ramadan, check out www.islamicity.com/ramadan. Suzy Abu-nie works part time for "Mosaic" at Worldlink TV, a satellite channel. She was a Fall 2000 Scholar at The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune. Reach her at suzyqqq@hotmail.com.

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