Another Blessing for Ramadan

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in the same area of the mosque.</p><p id="75f1">Fortunately, my dear friends declared their house to be a mosque so that we could stay there. That is much more convenient than staying in our mosque, which is farther away and does not have the same facilities for sleeping, bathing, etc.</p><p id="e5cb">We share the cooking duties and the cleaning up after meals. Because we try to stay up all night to commemorate God and read the Quran, we sleep during the days of the retreat — though of course, we get up to do our daily prayers.</p><p id="188b">This year the weather has been very cool, and the days are not too long. That combination makes fasting much easier. We have also had an unusual amount of rain in my desert hometown. That means that the sunrises and sunsets have been very beautiful with all of the clouds reflecting the gorgeous colors of those special times of the day. The rain has also increased the humidity, which helps us not get as thirsty during the day.</p><p id="1b57">This year there will be four of us retreating, with the fourth coming to join us from the Bay Area in California. The last time I saw this sister was many years ago. Seeing her again adds to my excitement for and anticipation of the retreat.</p><p id="459a">I pray that you have something as exciting to look forward to.</p><

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p id="2711">Thank you for reading this story. If you enjoyed it, you might enjoy some of my stories from past retreats like the following:</p><div id="7510" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-retreat-will-soon-end-18325394e207"> <div> <div> <h2>My Retreat Will Soon End</h2> <div><h3>All experiences end</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*BJZ9dv0a5zM01aDF)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="7149" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/ramadan-blessings-and-the-last-10-nights-1b9b9767a149"> <div> <div> <h2>Ramadan Blessings and the Last 10 Nights</h2> <div><h3>We have so much to be thankful for during this blessed month of Ramadan</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*rAlHEa2nc3_cs2w3)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

This year’s Last 10-day retreat

Cholla cactus silhouetted against the sunset in my yard — personal photo

Tonight the Last 10-day retreat for the end of Ramadan begins. Like many years in the past, I am blessed to do this retreat with very dear friends and members of my spiritual family.

The retreat is always very special to me. The Quran mentions it:

…You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are GOD’s laws; you shall not transgress them. GOD thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation. (The Quran 2:187-the last part of the verse)

For those who are not familiar with the Last 10-day retreat, it is a time when the members of the retreat try to keep their focus on God as much as possible. We try to stay together in the same area of the mosque.

Fortunately, my dear friends declared their house to be a mosque so that we could stay there. That is much more convenient than staying in our mosque, which is farther away and does not have the same facilities for sleeping, bathing, etc.

We share the cooking duties and the cleaning up after meals. Because we try to stay up all night to commemorate God and read the Quran, we sleep during the days of the retreat — though of course, we get up to do our daily prayers.

This year the weather has been very cool, and the days are not too long. That combination makes fasting much easier. We have also had an unusual amount of rain in my desert hometown. That means that the sunrises and sunsets have been very beautiful with all of the clouds reflecting the gorgeous colors of those special times of the day. The rain has also increased the humidity, which helps us not get as thirsty during the day.

This year there will be four of us retreating, with the fourth coming to join us from the Bay Area in California. The last time I saw this sister was many years ago. Seeing her again adds to my excitement for and anticipation of the retreat.

I pray that you have something as exciting to look forward to.

Thank you for reading this story. If you enjoyed it, you might enjoy some of my stories from past retreats like the following: