Ramadan Blessings to Our Muslim Friends

A Catholic’s Ramadan memory of celebrating values across faith traditions

As a Catholic Christian, I extend my warmest greetings to my Muslim friends and readers on Medium during this season of Ramadan. (March 10-April 9)

Ramadan, 2001

My first introduction to the celebration of Ramadan occurred in 2001. A recently widowed mother of two young children was assigned to be my teacher’s aide at the beginning of that school year. Her son and daughter were close in age to my youngest two children. Sevim and her children, Yusuf and Sharifah, are Muslim.

Sevim and I were beginning to develop a friendship when the horrific terrorist attack occurred against the United States, perpetrated by the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda. There were several Muslim families in our small elementary school. Sevim’s children were also students there. In my dual role as the school counselor and special education teacher, I relied on Sevim to guide me in providing support and reassurance to the Muslim students. Their families, as well as Sevim and her family, feared negative backlash because the terrorists were Muslim.

Sevim trusted me and shared her concerns about her extended family, which was located in several states across the Southeast United States. ven though she and her siblings were born in the United States, and her mother was also American, her father was from Turkey and still spoke with a noticeable accent. She worried he would be targeted.

Her openness in trusting me with her emotions brought us closer.

Our school community was unusually diverse and multicultural for Birmingham, Alabama. This proved an advantage in counseling all of our students after 9/11 because we had a natural little ecosystem of diversity. Our students were already developing an appreciation for and understanding of cultural differences. We were able to teach that the terrorists did not represent all Muslims and none of our Muslim families wanted this tragedy. Most of our students were United States citizens, even if their parents were immigrants.

Three faith traditions’ celebrations intersect in 2001

In the year 2001, I became aware of Ramadan for the first time. It was a significant year because Ramadan occurred from November 16 — December 16, which coincided with Thanksgiving, the beginning of the observance of Advent, and the festivities of the Christmas season. Additionally, Hanukkah was celebrated from December 9 — December 17. On our faculty, Sevim was the only Muslim, and Julie, the enrichment teacher, was Jewish. Linda and I were the only two Catholic teachers and, therefore, observed Advent. The four of us enjoyed sharing our respective traditions with each other and discovered how similar the values are in the three faiths.

Two families form a lasting bond with an iftar meal

Sevim and I are both single parents. That Ramadan in 2001 was the beginning of our family bonding. Sevim invited my three children and me to break fast with her and her children for iftar one Saturday during Ramadan. Iftar is the main meal of the fasting day, which occurs at sunset every day of Ramadan. That was when our children first met each other. All of our children got along splendidly! They have remained close friends even to this day, 23 years later. My Brendan is even now employed by Yusuf as a foreman in Yusuf’s construction business.

So, you can see how Ramadan has a special meaning for me as a Catholic Christian. A lifelong friendship between two families. was born during Ramadan in 2001.

As we stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters, let us embrace the values of compassion, empathy, and understanding that unite us across faith traditions.

May this sacred time be filled with abundant blessings, deep spiritual reflection, and joyful moments with loved ones.

May this Ramadan bring you peace, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose. Wishing you and your families a blessed Ramadan filled with love, grace, and divine guidance.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Mohsen Nabil shares a colorful story about Ramadan traditions in Egypt. He also provides background on the meaning of Ramadan. I enjoyed his enthusiasm for the celebrations!