Ramadan- The hidden treasure
Thirst in Ramadan
Still a few hours till the clock would tick 6 pm, the time where all muslims in Egypt will drink their first sip of water since 4 a.m. almost 14 hours of hard work, schools, driving, cooking, studying... whatever stuff they had to do during such a hot sunny summer day- today.
If you asked any one around here right now: what do you wish for? They'd immediately answer: a sip of cold delicious water! Yes, after being deprived of water for so many hours, it suddenly becomes "delicous" in the eyes of thirsty creatures as ourselves.
However, after not eating or drinking for so many hours we'd usually feel our grumpy nature showing when dealing with others. Our patience gets thinner and thinner. Then amidst the thirst, grumpiness, impatience and fatigue, we find ourselves calm and peaceful. So peaceful that we don't give away to our inner urge to answer back, stare back, or bother any person on the way. It's like we're telling them; "Harm me all you want and for as long as you want, I will forgive you. I need God's forgiveness so much and I won't get it unless I forgive everyone else."
Happiness in Ramadan
As the minutes tick away, it gets nearer to 6, and a feeling of happiness overwhelms me. Not because I'll drink & eat in a few minutes, no, but because I'm so tired and exhausted just to please Allah. I stare into space, with my ached head I'd think: All this is for You Allah, please accept the good deeds I have done today for Your sake, and then I'd ask for anything I want... anything... and I swear that it's a matter of months till my wish gets fulfilled infront of my eyes.
I forget almost everything I ask for, after a few days, so that when they're answered later, I never remember that this was my prayer just a few months ago! So this year I decided to write them all down, so that when they're answered I'd remember and celebrate the beautiful feeling of your simple prayers getting answered.
Helping in Ramadan
You might have noticed the Ramadan food bags that are getting packed in almost every street in Cairo. Thousands and thousands of huge bags full of food supplies that would fit a whole month are being distributed and spread to almost every poor family in every neighborhood.
The way we've done it here was so cooperative.
1-Girls make the money deals at the markets to get the highest quality with the lowest prices
2-Guys would unpack them from their cartons
3- Girls would pack them in bags, one bag for every family, in a very organized way.
4- Guys would carry the bags to their cars and hand them to the families at their doorstep.
and didn't you notice young men wearing the same colored t-shirts standing on street sideways with bottles of cold water, dates and fresh juice at exactly 6 pm so that if any one was late getting home to eat, they'd just stretch their hand out of their car window and the young man would give him everything for FREE. Just for the sake of doing something good, not wanting anything in return.
Togetherness in Ramadan
Families who haven't seen each other for ages gather around the same table eating delicious food- together. They'd joke, laugh, and have all the fun you could imagine. When they'd leave at midnight, it's like they're flying, like nothing is more joyable than a huge family of all ages, sitting almost on top of eachother in a not so big home.
At 6 pm, my little family of 5 would gather around our table and we'd all eat together. At non-Ramadan days, each of us would just eat whenever he/she gets hungry. Don't have to wait for the other to come. It's a normal day, not Ramadan.
Prayers in Ramadan
After you've ate, drank and had your cup of tea, then comes the need for peace again.
-You can never have enough of it, can you? of wanting more closeness and getting more exhausted for Allah. Haven't you had a hard day already? You need a rest... go take a nap.
-No, my rest is there.
-where?
-behind that man with the most beautiful musical voice in reciting the Qur'aan.
-But you'll stand on your bare legs for 2 whole hours!
- It's worth it. I wouldn't miss listening to him for the world. and the feeling when standing next to almost a thousand others, not knowing any of them, yet having the heart and unity of one man, is a treasure only a fool would sleep and miss it!
-Take me with you. Will I feel it? Like you do?
-You will, if you lose all your barriers. If you throw every ego you have away. If you tell yourself: Allah, here I come. Accept me!
The Imam I pray behind for 2 hours (called the TARAWIH prayer) is a student in medicine school. Thousands of people pray behind him. His voice is the most beautiful I have ever heard. I don't know how he does it, but just from the fatiha, I find myself lost in the prayer, not wanting to leave.
I may come again with more about Ramadan. Today is the 4th day and already I am grieving for the moment when the last day arrives.A day very similar to taking a loved one to the airport, letting him leave, not knowing when you'd ever- if ever- live to see him again.
Meanwhile, till I come again, why not listen to a child reciting the Qur'aan. This is my first time to listen to a child reciting so beautifully as this one:
http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b250/noour/?action=view¤t=Child.flv
Wishing everyone a lovely, blessed, forgiving and peaceful Ramadan!
