Ramadan

Tonight is the start of Ramadan, an Islamic holiday that marks the discovery of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic calendar is totally lunar, so Ramadan begins a few weeks earlier each year, at the sighting of the thin crescent moon, hopefully at sundown tonight.

Sunset photo by Brayden

Ramadan is a month of blessing. By night, Muslims read the Qur'an, and celebrate the compassion of God with special prayers. 

By day, they give generously to charities, and observe the discipline of fasting: They eat an early morning meal before the sun rises, then eat and drink nothing until after sundown. 

The Ramadan fast includes abstinence from falsehood and anger, in words and in deeds. It's purpose is to help Muslims to develop self-discipline, a strong spirit, generosity, and empathy. 

Even though I don't partake in a fast, I observe Ramadan in this same spirit, renewing my relationship with God, and exercising self-discipline and generosity. I hope to build my empathy for Muslims as they observe their month-long fast. 

Agenda:
1. Celestial awareness
2. Sunset prayer
3. Practice daily joyful activism
4. Enjoy Iftar tomorrow night
1. Celestial awareness: 
Ramadan lasts from tonight's crescent moon to next month's crescent moon. It's not a seasonal holiday because it falls at a different season every year; I think of it as a celestial holiday.

As part of my effort to have empathy for the Muslim's as they fast, I attempt to have a heightened awareness of the movement of the moon during this month, and each day's sunrise and sunset.

It takes special effort to pay attention to heavenly events. Muslims have the motivation of the fast, in which I am not partaking. I need to find creative ways to remind myself to be mindful. To help, I subscribe to a calendar ap that gives me a reminder on my phone. (It also helps that my ducks need to be let in and out of the coop with the sunset and sunrise.)

2. Sunset prayer:

Our back yard at dusk

I plan to observe a sunset prayer-time again during Ramadan. I'll go out on my back porch at sunset and chant one of the 99 names of God mentioned in the Qur'an.

I've made it my practice to pick a different one each year. Since my theme this year is Gestation, this year I'm chanting Al-Muhyee, الْمُحْيِي, the Giver of Life, from the Arabic root h-y-y, which means:

• to live, to be living
• to become apparent, distinct
• to animate, to revive
• to vitalize, to call into being
• to be whole, sound
• to call, summon, invite, hasten

Al-Muhyee means, then, the One who creates life, can create from nothing and surround all with the right conditions to survive. The One who makes us whole.
3. Practice daily creative flow:

Ramadan's purpose is to help Muslims to develop self-discipline, a strong spirit, generosity, and empathy. My own work this month is to create balance and flow each day, and not get swept away by purposelessness and anxiety. 

I'm going to try to take one intentional creative action each day for the entire month. I've been collecting a list and here are my first week's ideas:

• F: Decorate the new duck fence to make it visually appealing.
• S: Crochet baby leg warmers.
• S: Plan a quarantine birthday party for my son.
• M: Finish and send my daughter's shower invitations.
• T: Plan a great adult drawing / painting lesson.
• W: Sew more face masks.
• Th: Make birthday cupcakes.

4. Enjoy Iftar tomorrow night: 

The Ramadan fast is broken at sunset with a meal called iftar. One year I had this simple Turkish-style iftar meal with Ezogelin (EZ-oh gel-EEN) soup, flat bread, goat cheese, black olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and dates. The soup is very tasty and filling, and the recipe is here.