Ramadan seems to come around quicker than we anticipate - but it is a time we can use to benefit not only ourselves but others.

Muslims around the world will unite in abstaining from food and drink from dawn till sunset for the next 29/30 days.

During this month, we are also encouraged to pray abundantly and maintain an elevated level of good deeds. 

As a Muslim who has been partaking in Ramadan for almost a decade, I’ve become accustomed to the ‘Ramadan routine’ and picked up on a few unofficial traditions we seem to religiously exercise during this month. 

As natural as they may be to us, I question whether these customs and attitudes divert us from the true essence of Ramadhan.

The struggle is real
Naturally, in a state of hunger we are all vulnerable and sometimes inexplicably emotional.

Especially, when you’re living as a nocturnal for thirty days with late Taraweeh and early Suhoor, going to work with bad breath and constantly (and somewhat sympathetically) being asked by your colleague why you can’t even drink water. 

Fortunately, during Ramadhan we are blessed with a profound power and patience, with the true test of this month being perseverance. 

So, as well as being patient with your stomach’s volcano eruption during an 11am meeting, we must also learn to bear with and be patient towards the struggles of others. 

I guess the only advice is to stay away from anyone who is helplessly ‘hangry’ (hungry and angry) during this month, especially if our interaction is not going to be fruitful. Because I guess it really is true – “you’re not you when you’re hungry”.  

‘Ramadan Muslim’ 
A major challenge of Ramadan is maintaining a high level of self-discipline. 

Whilst some claim that functioning without food or drink for nineteen hours is the biggest trial, fasting also includes a great amount of self-restraint – from anything that may displease God or go against the principles of decency. 

Many Muslims use this month to better themselves, and hope for a major Imaan boost by the end. 

Amidst the craziness of everyday life, Ramadan can often seem like the only month where we remember and are reminded of our purpose as Muslims in this world. 

So don’t mock somebody because they choose to cover their hair in this particular month only, visit the Mosque more than regular or change their profile picture from a selfie to a Rumi quote. 

Street party 
From a young age we are taught that ‘sharing is caring’ and this good deed is multiplied seventy times during Ramadan.  Although the month should be about keeping food at its minimal it doesn’t appear so. 

If we’re not passing around recipes, we’re sending foil-wrapped plates of food to our neighbours throughout the month, half an hour before Iftar time. 

This is a cycle - your neighbour returns your plate with a serving of their Iftar the following day, so you send over more food as a thank you gesture. 

The delicacies go on for the entire month, and continue on until Eid!
 
Mealtime merriment 
As well as community togetherness, Ramadan also seems like the only extended period of time during the year where we have the opportunity to sit down together at meal times as a family. (Yes, I do realise we only have two meals a day, and nobody really has a choice but to sit together.) 

But is there really anything entertaining about waking up at 3am and watching your siblings stumble out of bed and force themselves to eat. 

How about also watch them scavenge through the Iftar spread and complain five minutes later about eating too much. 
It is these little moments which truly open our eyes to the bounties we have before us.

They certainly make us appreciate everything and everyone we are blessed with – call it ‘Ramadan romance’ (well, as halal as it gets!) 

Forwarded forgiveness  
This period also appears to be a time where we make sure to exchange customary pleasantries with our entire contact book, be it through a phone call or a text message.

It seems like an unspoken myth, but apparently your own du’aa is at risk of not being accepted if you don’t message a fellow relative or friend for forgiveness, and request them to remember you in their prayers.

And then comes the expected chain of forwarded forgiveness messages that fly around the 27th night sky, sent to people we haven’t even spoken to for an entire year.

I wonder if we actually do remember these people in our prayers and forgive all those we have messaged, or if the only time their name pops up is in the following year through a new form of a forgiveness message.

Mercy, Forgiveness and Protection 
No matter how we all may go about our differences in practicing Ramadan, at the end of the month we all know this special time only comes around once a year.

Therefore, we must make the most of every testing moment and hungry hour.

No doubt, tempers will rise as stomachs growl, and distractions will present themselves in all their shapes and sizes, but it is important to not lose focus on the blessings of this month and appreciate being granted the opportunity to live through another Ramadan instead of just live.