Ramadan Visitors :: Ramadan, One Step Closer - Ramadan, Rulings on Ramadan for Women, Slacking In Acts Of Worship During Ramadan, Our State After Ramadan, The Breeze of Ramadan, Ramadan and Fasting, The Prophet In Ramadan, Ramadhan And Fasting, Ramadan Goals, Ramadan and Repentance, Ramadan Pointers, The Meaning of Ramadan, The Spirit and Ramadan, The Greeting Of Ramadan, WELCOME RAMADAN, Post Ramadan, A Tear in Ramadan, Ramadan and The Quran, Repenting In Ramadan, Receiving Ramadan, Ramadan... The Beloved That Passes, Remaining Steadfast After Ramadan, Our Children After Ramadan, In Ramadan (For kids Only), The House During Ramadan, Ramadan Origin & Fasting, Reaping the Benefits of Ramadan, 7 Tips For A Healthier Ramadan, The Message Of The Blessed Month Of Ramadan, Fasting the Month of Ramadan, Beware After Ramadan, Ramadan: The Month of Piety, Ramadan: The Month of Deeds, The Expecting Woman in Ramadan, The Intention To Fast Ramadan, Getting closer to Allah in Ramadan, One Step Closer - What after Ramadan?!, The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan, Characteristics of the Month of Ramadan, Great Ramadan Ideas For children, Make Ramadan A Special Month, Ten Stops For Women In Ramadan, The Holy Qur'an and The Month of Ramadan, Ten Ways To Receive Ramadan, Back To Ramadan Of The Ancestors, Ramadan Brings Us Closer, Ramadan The School Of Piety, Educating Your Children In Ramadan, How to Understand Ramadan?, 20 Special Characteristics of Ramadan, Important Lessons From Ramadan, The Program Of The Muslim Sister In Ramadan, The Great Virtue of Ramadan, Qur'anic Ideas for Ramadan, Preparation of the Winners in Ramadan, A Different Ramadan This Year, The Keys Of The Good In Ramadan, What after Ramadan?, Welcoming the Arrival of Ramadan, What After Ramadan?, Ramadan: The Month of the Qur'an, Ramadan Between Two Images, Only To Young Men In Ramadan, Excerpts about Ramadan, Making Use Of Cooking Time In Ramadan, A Day And A Night In Ramadan: Worship Of The Night, Make The MOST Of The Last Days Of Ramadan!!, How to Get a Ramadan Full of Blessings?, The Spiritual and Health Benefits of Ramadan Fasting, 10 Great Goals To Set For This Ramadan, Beating Bad Breath during Ramadan, Seven Strategies to Train Kids this Ramadan, 5 Ways To Make This Ramadan Extraordinary!, Beyond Ramadan & Ar-Rayyan, Only To Our Young Girls In Ramadan, Divine Wisdom Behind Fasting Ramadan, Safe/Unsafe Ways of Weigh Loss, Happy Eid, What After Ramadan?, Don't Miss Ramadan's First Night, 15 Things For A Family To Do In Ramadan, 30 Steps To Warm Up For Ramadan, Suggested Program For The Muslim During Ramadan, The Fourth Pillar of Islam: The Fast of Ramadan, A Suggested Program For The Muslim Sister In Ramadan, The Most Profitable Trade in the Month of Ramadan, Ramadan & Fearing (Observing) Allah, How Do We Receive Ramadan?, Ramadan Concludes... What Happens Now?, Why Must We Be Generous On Ramadan?, To Every Woman Lived Till Ramadan, Why Muslims Love the Month of Ramadan?, What Did You Prepare For Ramadan?, A Month of Blessings, How Can We Prepare For The Arrival Of Ramadan?, MAXIMISE your rewards this RAMADAN – The SUNNAH the BETTER!, The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan - Don't Miss!, Checklist – Ramadan's Last Ten Nights and Days, Striving Hard, Competing For Good Deeds In Ramadan, Some Fatwas (Religious Opinions) About Ramadan, The Fasting of Vehicle Drivers, Among The Signs Of Making Things Easy in Ramadan, 25 Advisory Opinions (Fatwa) For Women in Ramadan, Set Realistic Ramadan Goals and Stick to Them!, What Do You Know About Ramadan?, A Day And A Night In Ramadan (Part 1 Of 2), How To Invest The Last Ten Days Of Ramadan?, How Can You Be Stimulated To Exploit Ramadan, Jurisprudential Verdicts about Your Health in Ramadan, End of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr Islamic Holiday, A Day and a Night in Ramadan (Part 2 of 2), Top 8 Ways To Boost Your Ramadan Spirit This Year, The Journey Has Just Begun, The Health Benefits Of Yogurt, A Brief About Fasting, The Method of Umrah, A Month of Blessings, One Step Closer - Night Prayer, Concerns Of The Islamic Scholar, I Am A Fasting Person, Introduction to Zakaah 1/2, Peaking at the Last Ten, Dedicating The Intention Of Worship, The Night of Power (Oh, What a Night!), Laylat Al-Qadr, Seeking Laylatul Qadr, Muharram, Six Days of Shawwal, Eat and Drink But Waste Not By Extravagance, Virtues Of The Month Of Muharram, The Virtue Of Fasting Six Days Of Shawwaal, Can We Celebrate Holidays?, The Virtues Of Shaban, Peace Until Fajr, I’tikaaf: A Spiritual Retreat, Virtues Of The Last 10 Nights, Fasting 'Ashoora' For One Who Still Owes Days, The Reward of Fasters, The Month Of Shawwāl 1431 Hijri Year, Does Islam Regard Men And Women As Equal?, Weakness Of Faith Phenomenon, The Virtue of Fasting Six Days in the Month of Shawwāl, Fasting in Sha’baan, How to Seek Laylatul-Qadr, The Defence Of The Sunnah 2/2, Rulings Related To the Month Of Rajab (2), Ashura And The Doom Of A Pharaoh, The Month Of Shaaban, Ramadhan Warriors, Before the Sand Slips Away, Turn Off That Stove!, Why Do Muslims Fast? (Part 1 Of 2), Why Do Muslims Fast? (Part 2 Of 2), Season of Goodness, A Day In The Life Of A Fasting Person, A Ramadhan Checklist, The Beginning Of The Development Of Nations, The Month Of Paradise, Zakat al-Fitr: A Purification Of Your Fasts, The Wisdom Behind I‘tikaaf, Remarks On Some Fasting People, Seventy Violations Committed by Women, Stances With A Fasting Muslim, Virtue Of Fasting Six Days In Shawwāl, Notifying With Some Rulings, Eat And Drink, But Be Not Excessive, A Chance To Change, The Fasting Person Has Two Occasions For Joy, Voluntary Fasting, Islamic Pamphlets - Why Islam? Beauty & Benefits of Islam, Fasting - A Way of Life, Violations Of Women During Fasting, The Elderly and Fasting, Are You Looking For Great Treasures?, Taraweeh Prayer, The Inner Secrets of Fasting, Basic Boo-Boo's Some Make When Paying Zakat Al-Fitr, Zakat Al-Fitr, Ramadan: Emily, Ex-Christian, New Zealand, One Step Closer - Eid, 10 Reasons Why I Chose Islam As My Religion?, 7 Daily Spiritual Productive Habits to Develop, The Virtues Of Ramadaan, Sohour Foods To Curb Hunger And Thirst, Revive Your Relation With the Qur'an (10 Hadiths), The Menstruating Woman & The Night Of Al-Qadr (Decree), When The Night Equals A Thousand, The Last Five Minutes Of Your Life, The Sunnah Of Fasting The Month Of Allah: Al-Muharram, Operation Death, I'tikaf, An Authentic Sunnah, Learn To Draw Up Intentions, A Detailed Self-evaluation Guide, Don't Wait - Live Productively While Young, The Sacred Month Of Rajab, The Virtue of Night Prayer, Basics Of Faith, Why Do They Weep And I Do Not?, Mistakes Made On Eid, The Last Ten Days, You Should Fast, Nothing Compares To Fasting, The Delight Of The Heart, The Night Of Power: Do Not Miss!, The Night Of Al-Qadr, The Muslim In Ramadaan, What Is Islam?, Ramadan: Sam Needham, Ex-Agnostic, UK, Being Good To Your Parents, Zakah al-Fitr Q&A, Eid al-Fitr 1436 Hijri Year, Islam Is Your Birthright, For People Performing I’tikāf Only, Eid and Zakat ul-Fitr, Fast-Breaking Zakat, Bring Your Friends Closer To Allah, 12 Tips For The Convert Muslim, Muslims Contribution To Science, Suhur (Pre-Dawn Meal), 12 Tips For Muslim Youth, Voluntary Fasting And Its Merits, Death: The Ultimate Visitor, Some Sayings About The Sahūr, Two Messages Concerning Zakat, 50 Questions and Answers in Faith, Of Our Errors in Ramadan: Not Rejoicing At The Advent of Ramadan, The Relationship Between Ramadan and Jihad (Fighting) in the Way Of Allah, Ramadan in The Pre-Islamic Period and In Islam, "...And Then Follows It With Six Days in Shawwāl" Before Making Up Missed Days of Ramadan, A Proposed Program For Imams And Preachers in Ramadan, Heresies in Ramadan, Common Mistakes in Ramadan, Ramadan: Ideas For Young People's Educators, Ramadan, My Dear Guest, I'm Sorry, 10 Points for Excelling in Ramadan, How Muslim Canadians Cope With Work, Hot Days And Fasting During Ramadan, Of The Errors Done In Ramadan Is Abandoning The Qur'an, Ramadan And Family Warmth, Etiquettes Of Ramadan (2/2), Ramadan Builds Up Values, Women And Time Management In Ramadan, Compensation for Fasts Missed In Ramadan, Conditioning Oneself To Fast And Other Good Deeds After Ramadan: Imam Ibn Rajb, 7 Good Deeds To Continue After Ramadan, Initiative To Teach Youth Special Rulings Of Ramadan, Ramadan Challenges Islamic Faithful to Discipline that Can Last All Year, Ramadan Contest Captures Wonder of Islam, Ramadan and The Blessings of The Most Gracious, Reciting the Qur'an in Ramadan, Virtues of the Month of Ramadan, 10 Important Things about Ramadan, Ramadan Generates Over 400 Million Euros for the French Economy, The Evidence of Ramadan, What is Ramadan?, What to Do After Ramadan?, Self Examination in Ramadan, Ramadan Is Over But The Ajr Isn't, Ramadan: A Chance for Change, Etiquettes of Ramadan (1/2), Ramadan and the Eid Festivals in Oman, The Blessed Month of Ramadan, We Miss You Ramadan, Al-Azhar Condemns China’s Ramadan Restriction , Of The Errors Done in Ramadan Is Abiding By Allah's Obedience Daytime, Advice for Ramadan, A Program For Newlyweds in Ramadan, Our Faults in Ramadan, Teaching Children How To Receive Ramadan And Fasting It (1), Combats of Honor In Ramadan, 10 Tips To Help You Keep Those Ramadan Habits, Tips To Ensure Digestive Distress Does Not Ruin Your Ramadan, Ramadan in Ireland - Eoin Butler's Q&A, What Should be Avoided in Ramadan, The Fast of Ramadan, The State of Salaf in Ramadan, The Virtue Of The Month Of Ramadan, Muslims Look Forward To Ramadan, Even In A Difficult Year, Virtues Of Ramadan, The Excellence of Fasting in Ramadan and Night Prayers (1/2), I'tikaf and Qiyam in Ramadan, What Have We Gained From Ramadan?, Ramadan: Muslims advised to eat 'Balanced Diet', The Virtues of Fasting in General and of Ramadan in Particular (4/4), The Official Beginning and End of Ramadan, Ramadan Document, Fasting in the Month of Ramadan, Ramadan Is The Field For Work, The Devils are Chained Up in Ramadan, Philosophy of Ramadan, The Virtue Of The Month Of Ramadhan, Plans To Overhaul GCSE Timetable to Avoid Clash with Ramadan, The Last Ten Days of Ramadan, How Do We Work Hard in Ramadan As Should? (2), US Muslims Demand End of China's Ramadan Ban in Xinjiang, New Ramadan Rules To Help Nordic Muslims With Fasting, The Excellence of Fasting in Ramadan and Night Prayers (2/2), Health Campaign For Diabetic Muslims During Ramadan, How Do We Work Hard in Ramadan As Should? (1), The Virtues of Fasting in General And Of Ramadan In Particular (2/4), US Muslims Make Adjustments for Ramadan, The Fasting of Ramadan: A Time For Thought, Action, And Change!, To Remain Steadfast After Ramadhan, Is Laylat-ul-Qadr The Twenty-seventh Night Of Ramadan?, 3,500 Products Cheaper During Ramadan, The Night Prayer During Ramadan, How to Spend Ramadan, Ramadan The Month of Qur’an, The Merits of Ramadan, Farewell Of Ramadan and Qiyam, Zakat-ul-Fitr, and Proprieties Of 'Eid, Ramadan - Fire Safety Advice, Fun In Ramadan, The Virtues of Fasting in General and of Ramadan in Particular (3/4), Silver Ramadan And My Brethren, The Last Ten Nights Of Ramadan, That Which Is Required Of You in Ramadan, Great Reward For Simple Actions (2), Continuation Of Good Deeds After Ramadan, Ramadan: Rules and Regulations, The Excellence of Ramadan and Fasting, Supplication And Ramadan, The Virtues Of Fasting In General And Of Ramadan In Particular (1/4), My Husband And Ramadan Series, Final Race In Ramadan, More Than 600 People Convert To Islam In Qatar During Ramadan, Taking Blood Sample For Analysis During The Daytime of Ramadan, The Virtue Of Performing Qiyam in Ramadan And Laylat-ul-Qadr (1), Ramadan Is 'Ideal Time' To Quit Smoking, Breaking The Fast With Strangers, Surat Al Baqarah Verse 179-189 (Quran2: 179-189), CAIR Urges U.S. Muslims to Share Ramadan with Neighbors, Management Of Minutes In Ramadan, New Muslims Enjoy Peace and Spirituality of the Sacred Month, Diabetic Training Program Launched, Virtues of Fasting During Shawwal, Ramadanna Kida 2 Opens in Jeddah, Fasting is Excellent For Diabetics, Tarawih: Night Prayers In The Month of Ramadan, What Should A Person Do At The End of Ramadan?, Medical: Why Islamic Fasting Is Different, Repentance in Ramadan, Errors Committed By Fasting People, The Essence of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr for Whom?, Fasting 6 Days Of Shawwal, The Garden Of The Six Days of Shawwal, Welcome, O Month Of The Qur'an, Holy Month Right Time To Get Rid Of Bad Cholesterol, Shawwal: Is The Tenth Month Of The Islamic Calendar, 'Fast For a Day' Event in Dubai Attracts Non-Muslims, 25 Filipinos Embrace Islam After Lecture, Shawwal (1): The Sermon of Shawwal, Reminding People Of Perfecting Actions At The End Of Ramadan, A Whisper In The Ear Of A Fasting Person, The Month Of Fasting Is Full Or Mercies And Gifts, The Prophet's Sunnah Regarding Fasting, The Virtue Of Fasting Six Days of Shawwal, That Is A Month Which People Are Heedless About, Reflections On Fasting, Fasting, A Gift From Your Creator (2/2), The Taraweeh Prayer, EID: Celebration for The Young And Old, Eid al Fitr in United States, Local Muslims Will Work Through Hunger Pains To Get Closer To God While Fasting, Shawwal: The Month After Ramadan, The Merit of Fasting (2/2), The Merit of Fasting (1/2), Times in Which Rewards Are Doubled, Keeping To The Acts of Worship, Great Reward For Simple Actions (1), Seizing the opportunity of Ramadan, What Should Be Done During This Great Month, Bidding The Month Of Ramadan Farewell, The Sunnah Of Fasting Six Days Of Shawwal, Claimers Of Fasting, The First Friday Of Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr in United Kingdom, The 10 Best Days, Authentic Hadiths Reported About Laylat-ul-Qadr (The Night of Decree), The Wisdom And Virtue Of Fasting, The Virtue Of Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Decree) (2), Fasting Challenges Today's Diseases, Sawm (Fasting), Of The Fruits Of Fasting, Rulings On Fasting For Women, Eid Al-Fitr, Zakat ul-Fitr, Great Reward For Simple Actions (6), Who Is Obliged To Fast?, As-Siyaam (Fasting), The Virtues of Fasting, The Night of Power (2/3), The Garden Of Good Manners, The Month Of Fasting And Fiducial Charging, Iftar Parties a Boon for Lonely Expats, An Old Man... To Tarawih, Sunan of 'Eid, Zakat-el-Fitr, The Obligation of Fasting, Zakatul-Fitr From The Words of Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, Fasting, A Gift From Your Creator (1/2), Thus, They Were Doing, Muslims Organize Nationwide Iftar in Britain, Muslims in China Keep Their Faith, Islam Brought Me Happiness, Laylatul Qadr, The Rulings of Fasting, Distress and Worry, Ramadan and Spiritual Purification, The Etiquettes and Sunan of Fasting, Zakat Two Main Categories - Zakat of al-Fitr And Zakat of Wealth, 'Eid Celebration, Hot Weather a Challenge to Fasting Muslims, Rectifying Our Morals, Laylat-ul Qadr, Observing the Supererogatory Night Prayer (Qiyam), Sunan Shawwal, Sahuur, The Levels of Fasting (2/2), The Legislation Of Al-I'tikaaf, The Manners of Fasting, Why Was Fasting Ordained?, Voluntary Fast, How They Came To Choose Islam, Virtues of Laylatul Qadr, The Rulings On Fasting, The Virtue Of Fasting, Signs of Laylat Al-Qadr [the Night of Decree], The Obligation of Fasting (1/3), The Status Of Fasting In Islam, Why Do I Observe I'tikaf?, The Virtue And Importance Of Fasting, The Nature Of Things That Break The Fast (1/2), Meaning And Blessing Of The Fasting, Overeating During Iftar, The Physiological Changes That Occur During A Fast, Rulings On Zakatul-Fitr And Eid Prayer, Laylatu-l-Qadr, The Obligation of Zakatul-Fitr, The Virtues Of Ramadhaan, The Virtues Of (Sawm) Fasting, The Virtue Of Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Decree), Nature of Things That Break The Fast (1/2), Fasting On The Two Feasts And The Days Of Tashriq, From The Benefits Of Fasting, Medical Aspects Of Islamic Fasting, Importance Of Laylatul Qadr, The Significance Of Shawwal, The Things That Break One's Fast, The Wisdom Behind Fasting, Health Care and Fasting, Ramadan and Tawbah (Repentance), Seize The Opportunity Of Ramadan, Ramadan And Victory, The Impact Of Ramadan On Us, Stay Fit for Ramadan, The Health Benefits of Fasting, Tips to Cure Your Addictions this Ramadan, The Lunar Calendar, On the Eve of Ramadan, Becoming One of Allah's Special People, 15 Hadiths on Ramadan, What to Do This Ramadan (10+ Hadiths), Ramadan Tips for Western Muslims, Reviving Up for Ramadan, Introduction to Ramadan, Why The Muslims Love The Month Of Ramadan, Spiritually Gearing Up for Ramadan, First Ten Days of Ramadan: A Shower of Mercy, Ramadan: A Means of Reflection, Ramadan, the Quran, and Me, Ramadan and the Meaning of Fasting, The Last Ten Days of Ramadhan, The Meaning and Rules of Fasting, Morals of Fasting, Make This Ramadan Your Best Ramadan Ever, Ramadan: Another Chance to Get It Right, How to Optimally Benefit From Ramadan, Ramadan in the US: A Challenging Experience, My Ramadan Diary (Part 1), Ramadan: Always in My Heart, Remembrances of a First Ramadan, Managing Ramadan with Your Non-Muslim Family, The Triangle of Bliss: Ramadan, Quran and Taqwa, Spiritual Readiness for Ramadan, Preparing New Muslims for Their First Ramadan, Ramadan: Reclaiming Yourself, Ready for Your First Ramadan? Practical Advice, Waking up after Ramadan, Starting Anew, Preparing for Ramadan: Renewing Our Intentions (1), Rehab Yourself before Ramadan: The Prophetic Way, Ramadan Countdown: Wisdom, Focus, and Reliance, Without Gravity ... (Ramadan Countdown - 4), Others This Ramadan, Fasting for the First Time?, Ramadan: A New Muslim Woman's Reflections, Fasting: A Divine Treatment for Body and Soul, Ramadan's Four Elements, New Muslims in Ramadan’s Last Precious Ten Days, First Ten Days of Ramadan: A Shower of Mercy, This Ramadan, I Will..., Atheist Finds Islam Through Fasting Ramadan, How Did the Prophet Spend Ramadan?, Lana's Ramadan Diary, Ramadan Visitors, A Nightly Opportunity for Spiritual Elevation (5), Ramadan: A Month of Generosity, Ramadan: A Training of Spiritual Endurance, Ramadan: Month of Sympathy, Take a Minute to Think This Ramadan, Three Strengths That Ramadan Develops in You, Ramadan's Final Round: Seeking Solitude at its End, Ramadan Seasonal Cycle: Fasting in Winter Again?, Spiritual Readiness for Ramadan, Fasting: A Habit or an Act of Spiritual Devotion?, Getting Through Ramadan & Connecting with Allah, Ramadan, the Qur’an, and Us, Ramadan: A Time for Thought, Action & Change, Intermittent Fasting: Clarifying Facts from Fad, Ramadan: The Dawn of Hope On EsinIslam.Com And Muxlima.Com

Ramadan Visitors

EsinIslam Ramadan

Ramadan Explorer

By Linda Delgado (Widad)

Who is Mr. Ramadan? Why is he visiting 30 days and Mrs. Eid only three? Why don't they visit together? Juz… do you mean juice? Am I supposed to be drinking a glassful of juice each of the 30 days of Ramadan? Muslims eat a breakfast before the sun rises and they eat a breakfast before the sun sets? OH! You meant break fast not breakfast! Why are some of the men sleeping at the masjid during the last ten days of Ramadan just to see Mr. Laylut al-Qadr? Why can't they find him? What is the big secret? A Muslim told me about the Islamic science of COD…COD is scientific? I thought it meant Cash On Delivery! Instead I later learned he was talking about the moon!

I am a Muslim revert going on six years now and the opening paragraph is an exaggeration of the confusion many new reverts feel when facing his or her first Ramadan. I remember my first Ramadan with a sense of peace and also fondness at the humor of the wonderful, sad, and happy experience. Looking back I am amazed that I made it through without mistakes and didn't have 30 days of fasting to make up after Ramadan.

I am the only Muslim in my family and like most reverts, I don't have extended Muslim families. Unless your particular Muslim community has an awareness of the issues confronting Muslim reverts, and then most reverts are pretty much on their own when it comes to Ramadan and the Eids' celebrations.

I was a member of several sister e-groups by the time my first Ramadan began. I read avidly everything the good sisters wrote about their plans and doings for Ramadan. Being a natural planner by nature, I decided to make a ''Ramadan Plan'' and post it to the e-groups to see if I would be doing something wrong or something right.

As I remember it, my plan was very elaborate. It began with the time I would wake each day of Ramadan. Next I listed exactly what I would eat for Sahoor and what Surah I would recite in Fajr prayer. Next I listed what Juz I would read each day and even wrote the "from and to" page numbers. I also listed what I would eat to break my fast and made a calendar of Ramadan Days just in case I made a mistake I could write down the day and thus keep track of how many fasts I would need to make up!

I checked with the two Muslim sisters I knew to see if they knew of any poor families I might buy meals for ''just in case'' I got sick and couldn't fast. They didn't know of any families they could point to so I added a local Muslim Food Bank to my ''Help the Needy'' short list for not fasting due to any potential illness.

I was doing fine until I tried to understand the Tarawih prayer. Then felt a sense of relief as I knew I would not be going to the mosque much because of a lack of transportation and poor health. I placed an asterisk by this for future research. I also got hung up on understanding how to figure out Zakah. Since I didn't own any gold I decided I must figure out what I owed based on my annual salary. I didn't know I was supposed to deduct my living expenses first! I had a hard time that first year because of my lack of knowledge about this Islamic practice.

Did everything go according to PLAN? Nope... but I gave it my best shot and I just trusted in Allah to reward me for my intentions and what I did right.

But figuring out Ramadan wasn't my biggest challenge. That first Ramadan came at the same time as my Christian family's Christmas celebrations! In the months leading up to Ramadan I had slowly removed objectionable objects and pictures from my home. My home was ready for Ramadan decorations…well almost. Now was the BIG test. I had to tell my family that family traditions that we had shared for Christmas for 29 years were being set aside. No more going to midnight Mass (at the Catholic Church) and no more opening presents after the church service with the family gathered around the Christmas tree sipping hot chocolate and eating home-made Christmas cookies!

My kids and grandkids were hurt and angry. I suggested that they have the traditional Christmas Eve activities and after Mass go to my son's home which was right next door to my own home. As the ''battle'' raged over Christmas decorations versus Ramadan and Eid decorations I thought I would go crazy. I was so sad and just couldn't be angry with my family. I had changed. They had not. While they were willing to acknowledge that I had the right to choose my religion, it wasn't until my religion conflicted with their own that the first real problems occurred between my Christian family and myself about me being Muslim.

Finally I decided that my home would not have decorations for Christmas or for Ramadan and Eid. I didn't share in going to Mass with the family or the gift opening around the Christmas tree, but the next day I did cook the traditional meal of turkey and trimmings and we had a family meal together. We agreed that I would give each of them a gift at the family dinner and they could give me an Eid gift which I would save and open up on Eid.

It was not a perfect solution but it worked this first year. In subsequent years each of my children began a tradition of celebrating their Christmas in their own homes and our annual family get-together has been held during the summer months when their children are out of school.

I have grown used to spending my Ramadan and Eids alone. There are times when I think about how nice it would be for a Muslim family in the community to ask me to their home to break fast and share their meal, pray with them and perhaps listen while the Qur'an is being read. Sigh. But I have also come to appreciate the quiet time I have during Ramadan where I know I will be able to read all of the Qur'an, one Juz each night, and a wonderful sister-friend sent me a clock with the Adan in it so I hear the call to prayer five times daily and it is comforting, especially during Ramadan.

Now the rooms in the house which are specifically used by me have Ramadan and Eid pictures decorating walls… pictures and banners of Islamic graphics sent to me by sister-friends and their children from around the world. My family decorates their family room for their holidays and we are tolerant and at peace with one another.

I share email and telephone greetings with many Muslim friends around the world and also send and receive many Ramadan and Eid greeting cards through the mail….and always I feel that Allah is with me. I am never alone.

©2005 Linda D. Delgado (Widad)
Linda (Widad) Delgado is a Muslim, lives in Arizona, is married, and has three children and eight grandchildren. Mrs. Delgado is a graduate of the University of Phoenix and is a retired State Police Sergeant. She is the Director of the Islamic Writers Alliance www.islamicwritersalliance.net. She is also a publisher: Muslim Writers Publishing www.MuslimWritersPublishing.com and author: 2005 AMWA Excellence in Media, Literary Art Award for Islamic Rose Books. Click here to read her journey to Islam. You can reach her at www.widad-lld.com.

EsinIslam Ramadan Team

Add Comments