Fasting, for those who do not know it yet, is a mandatory affair of Ramadhan for the Muslims. Quoting Wikipedia, Muslims worldwide fast during the daylight hours of Ramadhan, waking up before dawn to eat and breaking their fast once the sun sets each day all through the month. In case you're wondering, Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, also a sacred month in Islam as it commemorates the time when prophet Mohammed is said to have received the revelations that form the basis of the Quran. During this month however, Muslims do not just fast but are also encouraged to carry out the additions to fasting such as reciting the entire Quran as well as performing the extra night prayers called the Tarawih.
Observing Ramadhan with the above-said practices have apparently been a yearly affair for me since I was 6 (quite a common age to start fasting though not so much of the additions practiced at that time). So I guess I can roughly say that Ramadhan is by now quite a familiar period of time to me and has in fact been the same for me throughout. Perhaps, except at times when I had to fast outside Singapore, those were maybe the only times I would consider fasting all challenging and scary and different. The only time less of a routine when fasting in Singapore that I could think of would have to be the time when I was 14 and preparing for SEA Games. Then, I had to practically endure intense heat and scorched grounds as I fast during the practices. But I survived it altogether, and as I think of it now, I thought it wasn't too bad after all. :) Other than having to fast during preparation for the Games, Ramadhan in Singapore has by far been the same for me throughout.
Last year, Ramadhan in the country was slightly unusual to me though. For the very first time last year, I observed the practices of the month as a wife. And for the very first time too, I observed it with the company of my husband, Kenji, who was (and is still) new to Islam. It was a moment of mixed feelings I remember. Not only was I excited for Kenji who was doing his first Ramadhan ever, but also I was worried if fasting would be too difficult a feat for him to fulfill. But despite Kenji's lack of experience in fasting, I thought he did really well on it. And up till today, I couldn't be prouder of him. So this Ramadhan, I thought I shall just wait and see how he goes as he aspires to complete another round of Ramadhan, perhaps just like how he did a year ago. And on my part, I pray that God be with him throughout his practices.
Speaking of last Ramadhan and Kenji's first, however, reminds me of the day Kenji and I fasted on our trip in Phuket. Our short trip in the resort island had apparently ended on the very day Ramadhan started. So we practically started our Ramadhan last year on our last day in Phuket despite the possibility to defer fasting for the reason that we were on a journey (Quran, V.2:184). Fasting on that day however had also meant that Kenji's first ever Ramadhan was carried out on a trip, which apparently was quite an un-favorable manner for a beginner like him to have it commenced. But anyway nothing much can be noted on fasting in Phuket, really (mainly because we did not get to see how the Muslim community in Phuket commemorates Ramadhan - despite dropping by a mosque earlier that day - as nothing significant seemed to have been going on). More inopportune to us however was to be on our way to the airport at sunset as it further denied us the chance to be with the Muslims during the breaking of fast.
So unlike last year, I was glad that Kenji started this Ramadhan in quite an 'orthodox' way, fasting NOT on a journey as Ramadhan started, that is. For the past 2 weeks of this Ramadhan, I thought Kenji seemed to have been doing well, fasting for about 13.5 hours a day, just as the other Muslims in Singapore did. For the past 2 weeks too, he seemed to have had heaps of fun with the various features Ramadhan in Singapore has to offer, and I am no different than that. On my part, however, I just thought Ramadhan this year could simply not be better. I mean, having experienced fasting in 3 different countries by now (though not very fair to include that of in Phuket), I thought nothing beats fasting in my own motherland thus far. Not only are the islandwide festivals and bazaars really exciting, but also the entire atmosphere, which includes the presence of my immediate family members and the active muslim community here, are definitely very stirring.
So as of now, our plans (Kenji's and mine) for the rest of Ramadhan is to stay put in Singapore as we continue observing the practices of the month till it ends. Hopefully our plans to remain in the country works our way and if it does, this will make a full Ramadhan in Singapore the first for me in 5 years! :)
All right, I guess I better go. Need to catch up on some sleep before another pre-dawn of sleeplessness. But before I do, (I know it's a little bit too late but) let me wish all Muslims "Ramadhan-Eid Mubarak". And to my non-Muslim readers, have a great October.
Below are some pictures of this year's first fortnight of Ramadhan in Singapore for you to see. Enjoy!
Read more on Ramadhan in this blog:
Odd Questions, Grating Comments
Looking Back - Phuket
Ill + On For More Eid BUT Kenji���s Tired of It
Talking Things Local
PostCards From Thailand
Eid in Hobart
Ramadhan 2005
A Reason To Smile
Reference:
Wikipedia, Ramadan, Available [Online]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan, 26/09/2007.
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