My Retreat Will Soon End

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and read and discuss the verses of the Quran, commemorate God with Zikr (recitation or singing of verses from the scripture or the names and attributes of God), and working on various projects having to do with God and the Quran.</p><p id="f429">During the days we sleep, cook, and do the other things needed to stay alive. Other than going to the mosque and walking to my home short way down our dirt road to bake bread and use added refrigerator and freezer space, we stay in their home and try to do most things together as part of the retreat.</p><p id="bd66">How wonderful this time has been for me who normally spends most of my time in a neighboring state with my husband in our little cabin retreat! While I miss my husband and the peace and quiet there, <b>being with my spiritual family for the end of Ramadan has truly blessed me, praise God</b>. One aspect of this time which has most nurtured me is being able to visit face to face with other members of my community. Normally when I am at our cabin, I need to talk using the telephone, Skype, Zoom or WhatsApp apps. So, getting to share directly while sitting next to people I love gives me joy.</p><p id="206d">Performing the Salat — the Muslim Contact Prayers — in person with others gives me the same kind of satisfaction. As does breaking or beginning the Ramadan fast.</p><p id="87c7" type="7">Many spiritual paths give a special importance to “breaking bread” together. Sharing good food with those you feel attachment to seems to fill a universal human need. It nourishes more than just the body. Perhaps that gives a clue about human relationships. Who doesn’t have special memories tied to food? Whether a banquet or a snack, food often plays a big part in social interactions.</p><p id="1365">In my mosque and other communities closely associate

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d with it, potlucks always tend towards varied and delicious feasts because we come from such diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. We often get to share dishes from many different ethnicities and thus gain a small experience with their cultures. Perhaps this focus seems unimportant until the adage of, “You are what you eat” reminds us of its great value.</p><p id="2ecb">This explains why I already look forward to participating in next year’s retreat, God willing!</p><p id="c2fb">Thank you for reading this story. You might also enjoy these stories. These links are free to all readers:</p><div id="2c36" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-personal-interfaith-mini-feast-de55fb6da685"> <div> <div> <h2>My Personal Interfaith mini-Feast</h2> <div><h3>On the 11th day of Ramadan I broke my fast with a truly interfaith meal.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*9FsNIKEfCCgz5osxv5quHw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="b18e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/interfaith-ramadan-feast-cb34fbe33538"> <div> <div> <h2>Interfaith Ramadan Feast</h2> <div><h3>In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*KvabgpAcCXDr6iuV27YKsA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

All experiences end

For those readers who are familiar with the Quran and the practice of Ramadan, I have been retreating with a wonderful brother and sister from my home mosque here in the Southwestern part of the United States for the Last Ten Days/Nights of Ramadan. Let me describe this retreat a bit more for those not familiar with the concept.

The Quran mentions that some will retreat to the mosques during the last ten days of the Muslim lunar month of fasting known as Ramadan. Probably most people are a bit familiar with Ramadan, the month when Muslims who can do so do not eat or drink anything from the earliest light of dawn until sunset. Here is the last part of the verse that speaks of the retreat:

…. 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)

For many years my friends have used their home as an adjunct to our mosque. So, we retreat in their home where we have all the facilities needed to sleep, bathe, etc. We try to stay up at night and read and discuss the verses of the Quran, commemorate God with Zikr (recitation or singing of verses from the scripture or the names and attributes of God), and working on various projects having to do with God and the Quran.

During the days we sleep, cook, and do the other things needed to stay alive. Other than going to the mosque and walking to my home short way down our dirt road to bake bread and use added refrigerator and freezer space, we stay in their home and try to do most things together as part of the retreat.

How wonderful this time has been for me who normally spends most of my time in a neighboring state with my husband in our little cabin retreat! While I miss my husband and the peace and quiet there, being with my spiritual family for the end of Ramadan has truly blessed me, praise God. One aspect of this time which has most nurtured me is being able to visit face to face with other members of my community. Normally when I am at our cabin, I need to talk using the telephone, Skype, Zoom or WhatsApp apps. So, getting to share directly while sitting next to people I love gives me joy.

Performing the Salat — the Muslim Contact Prayers — in person with others gives me the same kind of satisfaction. As does breaking or beginning the Ramadan fast.

Many spiritual paths give a special importance to “breaking bread” together. Sharing good food with those you feel attachment to seems to fill a universal human need. It nourishes more than just the body. Perhaps that gives a clue about human relationships. Who doesn’t have special memories tied to food? Whether a banquet or a snack, food often plays a big part in social interactions.

In my mosque and other communities closely associated with it, potlucks always tend towards varied and delicious feasts because we come from such diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. We often get to share dishes from many different ethnicities and thus gain a small experience with their cultures. Perhaps this focus seems unimportant until the adage of, “You are what you eat” reminds us of its great value.

This explains why I already look forward to participating in next year’s retreat, God willing!

Thank you for reading this story. You might also enjoy these stories. These links are free to all readers: