Ramadan Quest

Earlier this month, Mehdi Hasan of the Guardian wrote about having to deal with Islamophobia on a day to day basis; how his work and family were affected, but asserting that he would continue to do what he does. Mr. Hasan clarifies that he does not consider his Islamic beliefs exempt from public criticism — just that it be afforded the same respect others are, and that you not say about Muslims anything you would refuse to say about any other group or minority. “Believe me, Muslims aren’t endowed thicker skins that non-Muslims,” he says. As Mr. Hasan has experienced, it’s easy to find people who criticize a belief system based on their biased views on how life ought to be lived. Very rarely can we find someone who bases their views on well-researched practices. In the words of Karen Armstrong, “compassion is not a popular virtue.”

In January this year, I learned of an American journalist from Utah that had been studying Ramadan (Islamic month of fasting) for twenty years and now, and “as an exercise of empathy and solidarity” she was going to observe Ramadan how a Muslim would. In her “Ramadan Quest,” Ms. Peggy Stack observed how “Christians believe you should have a prayer in your heart always, and Muslims sure know how to program that into you” (referring to the five daily prayers, or salah). By fasting every day, from dawn to dusk and incorporating the requirements of prayer, alms giving, Quran reading, good behavior, control over negative emotions, etc., she realized that the process reminded her to be grateful for all she had, noting her good fortune that “going hungry can be a voluntary ritual, not a death sentence.”  

Ms. Naiara Leite, a lawyer in New York, similarly tried a “Ramadan Quest” of her own. In an attempt to understand one of her good friends better, she started fasting last Ramadan but only on Fridays. She answered the following questions via email from her home in New York: 

1. I’ve been reading the Quran for over 20 years, I find that I have to frequently revisit the Quran and ensure I come to it with no baggage. What was your experience like in reading the Quran? How does it compare to when you read other religious texts such as the Bible? What were your favorite parts of the Quran? Do you continue to read it? 

I am a born and raised Catholic from Brazil where we have relatively good coexistence among religions but little religious diversity.  It wasn’t until I moved to the US in 2007 that I met a Muslim friend who introduced me to the Quran.  Being such a well versed and religious person, my friend inspired me to learn more about Islam.  Like other religious books that I have come across, the Quran is a product of its time and society that has timeless teachings.  When read in context and in light of discernment, anyone can benefit from its wisdom.  Like the Bible, the Quran relates a universal quest of love for God and compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters.  One of my favorite parts in the Quran is “[…] onto everyone of you we have appointed a different law and way of life. And if God had so willed he could truly have made you all one single community. But He willed otherwise in other to touch you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto you. Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to differ.” (Quran 5:48).  I continue to consult the Quran after my Ramadan experience, particularly by search term and theme. 

2. What were you expecting out of fasting and how did it compare in reality? Do you have favorite parts of the day while fasting? 

Honestly, my first goal was to feel closer to my Muslim friend whom I missed so much.  Also, I was determined to continue her advocacy for Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance even if in a smaller scale by fasting only on Fridays.  I felt that, as a Catholic, I also had a responsibility to correct the distortions that had been aired about Islam among my community.  So celebrating Ramadan was a window to encourage discussion and learning among my family.  What I was not expecting was to be humbled by this experience.  The other great surprise was the sentiment of communion with Muslims fasting all over the world.  My favorite part of the day was walking by the Mosque next to my house after work to see their celebration.  I felt like I could finally understand their excitement. 

This is a great question!  Indeed, the more I interact with people of different faiths, the more I realize the universal sentiment that unites all.  But all too often our commonalities are clouded by one group’s use of its powers to subjugate a religious minority somewhere.  One way to overcome this is by going back to the roots of our own religions and we will all find that we share one fundamental truth: love, for God and our fellow humans.  It is also enlightening to see that the major religions share a sense of retribution for the good and bad we do.  It is within our power to be closer to God, something we commonly call freewill.

 4. What did it teach you, if anything and would you do it again?

 This was certainly an exercise of self-control and moderation.  The very first Friday was an uphill battle against my mind and body.  But the following ones were filled with introspective reflection.  I was able to realize that I was gaining more from the experience than what I had intended to give.  Fasting helped me clear my mind from daily distractions to focus on family, and my relationship with God.

 5. Lastly, do you have any anecdotes from your experience that you’d like to share?

Oh, yes!  Coincidently I was working long hours those weeks, so my boss decided to buy me and my colleagues lunch on Fridays.  Initially I did not know how to explain that I would not eat with them because I, a Catholic, was observing Ramadan.  To my delight, when I finally communicated my reasoning it turned into a healthy and positive group discussion about religion.  After that my colleagues were mindful of my fasting and avoided eating at their desks so that I would not feel ‘tempted’.  Little did they know that, by then, I had grown to value fasting so much that I actually did not miss food at lunch hour. 

Yesterday, with the commencement of Ramadan, Muslims around the world started fasting. It is a month of introspection and of shedding our vices; seeking enlightenment not to judge but to understand. As Muslims seek to better themselves this month, it would great to see others taking a page out of Peggy and Naiara’s book in order to learn about something new. Commenting on Mr. Hassan’s piece earlier this month, Mr. Owen Jones of The Independent put it best when he said “[i]t’s time for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to join forces against the most widespread – and most acceptable – form of bigotry of our times.”