Ramadan Kareem to all my lovelies who are fasting, and for anyone who is not, I hope you are enjoying the May sunshine we are getting because it is making everything so much brighter nowadays!
The other day I was sat chatting with my family and realised, oh em gee it’s the last of everything now. My last Ramadan, Eid, Birthday, New Years etc. at home. Now for normal people this may not be a big deal – but for any brown girl that lives at home till marriage – this is big. The thought that every single event will be so different from next year is really weird and I can’t quite imagine what it will be like yet.
Ramadan is such a special month which helps all Muslims around the world be more appreciative of what they have, reflect on things and grow spiritually closer to their religion. It’s a month where we don’t eat from sunrise till sunset (yes not even water) but it is so much more than that. It’s a month I have more peace in my mind, a month where everything seems to stop and a month where the days seem to have so much more time that you feel you can be more productive and realise just how much time eating takes up haha.
Ramadan for me is all about family. Living at home is what makes it so much more fulfilling for me and for this reason, with it being my last Ramadan at home, I thought it was apt to reflect on what I will miss most.
1. The fried home food.
Okay so we knew this would be up there. Oh dear lord, the thought that next year I won’t be indulging with pakoras, samosas, chaat, rice and many, many more pleasantries is a really scary thought. Haha call me dramatic but ANY Muslim Pakistani knows this is what makes this month that much more great. Obviously i’ll have them when I am home but just mum’s food in general is that much more satisfying when you’ve been starving all day.
2. Telling mum NOT to make fried food for Iftar then shouting at her when she hasn’t.
Haha so after the first few days of all the fried stuff, everyone wants a break. Every year without fail we tell my mum continuously NOT to make us any fried starters for Iftar and then when she actually listens we get so annoyed because it’s all we crave when it’s time to break our fast haha. Soz mum, we’re annoying.
3. Watching Mufti Menk with mum and dad at Sehri.
It’s become tradition in the last few years that we sit and watch an insightful talk from our main man Mufti Menk (love him) whilst having our breakfast. If you’ve not yet watched him I would recommend; he is knowledgeable and motivating but really funny whilst doing so. Anyways, I am going to miss coming down and switching it on whilst we’re all barely awake and can’t be bothered talking to each other. I’m the only one that really comes down and makes an effort (because my brother is lazy) so I think they’ll really miss my presence at sehri too.
4. Aloo Parathay for breakfast.
Parathay for breakfast are great but in Ramadan, they’re even greater. I have fully accepted the fact I probably won’t have a paratha for sehri ever again unless I travel home at 3am because 1. I know my cooking skills will never extend to making them and 2. Nad is way to healthy to allow that to be our morning meal. *cries*
5. Shopping for the month with my mum.
Usually before Ramadan begins, I go shopping with my mum to buy the fruit, spices, meat, dates etc. The shops have nasheeds playing loudly and the hustle and bustle just makes me so excited for Ramadan. Don’t get me wrong – I know there will still be busy shops before Ramadan (lol bit dramatic Tayybs) – but doing it without my mum or not for our house will just be strange.
6. Dad’s annual lecture about watching TV.
Every year before Ramadan starts, my dad gives us a lecture about how we should not watch TV throughout the month and always threatens to take away the Apple TV. When we were younger he would put a cover over the TV so we could not watch it, haha. I guess he’s always just wanted to highlight how special/different this month should be and how we should spend our time wisely. Don’t get me wrong, we always sneak in a TV show here and there but man – I’ll miss having someone telling me not to.
6. Eid morning not at home.
This is a biggy for me and I will fully appreciate it this year because it’s my favourite. The boys coming home from Namaz and waking me up dead early and us all having a big lavish breakfast together before getting ready for the day. It’s one of my FAVOURITE parts of Eid. Although I will inshallah be around, not being at home in my pjs and being woken up by dad/my brother will be strange.
Now if y’all have read that and think I am being dramatic, don’t get me wrong – I think I am too but I guess the small things do really make up the whole month and make it that much more special. Ramadan for me is made so much more special and easier by having people around you and I guess not having the noise, traditions and general presence of my family 24/7 will just be strange. I am sure it will be just as special next year inshallah and we will start our own traditions which will be fab but nothing can take away the feeling of what you’ve been brought up doing.
I pray you all have an amazing month and all your efforts are accepted!
Tayyeba xx