The Memories of the Holy Month: Growing Up as a Muslim

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can imagine the chaos my mom was facing. Being an Asian mom, she will be babbling during her struggle to wake us up but at the end there will always be good food on the table. We have lists of menus to request from her for Sahur. It is no doubt that mom’s cook is always the best.Waking up for Sahur is not only the struggle I had as a kid during Ramadan. I can never forget the thirst and starving I had during school hours. Could you imagine a 7 years old climbing up the stairs to her class in the 3rd floor while fasting? Me being mischievous, I would sometime sneak to the toilet to sip some water from the pipe. Until today, my parents thought that I was very obedient as a kid. Who would have thought that sometimes, breaking some rules can be the best memories that you could keep alive.<figure id="e114"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*cxQrcJ0J9QkS2WNOiBiMHA.jpeg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>As an Islamic country with a penchant for food, Malaysia celebrates Ramadan in the most glorious form, as streets from all corners in the country turn out to be massive street food fiestas, also known as Bazaar Ramadan. Perhaps the most special and distinguishing aspect of Ramadan in Malaysia is the Bazaar Ramadan that can be found at almost every corner all over the country, offering a huge array of mouth-watering delicacies for you to break your fast with. A visit to these bazaars are a feast for the senses, especially olfactory, as you would be assaulted with all kinds of wonderful smells wafting in the air as you walk from one end to the other.There is no better time for locals and tourists to

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titillate their taste buds than by touring the various Iftar (breaking of fast) spots and trying out the various delicacies each site offers during the month-long Bazaar Ramadan held throughout the country. This is something that we, Malaysians, missed the most during this lock down.But Ramadan is not all about good food during Sahur nor Iftar. It is about submission of soul and supplication to the Lord. It is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. After Iftar, my family and I would go to the nearest mosque for Tarawih prayer. Which is another thing that we missed while being in quarantine this year. Tarawih are extra nightly prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. Tarawih prayers are considered Sunnah (optional), not obligatory.In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking during this time, Muslims abstain from sexual relations, sinful speech and behavior during Ramadan. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities.All in all, growing up as a Muslim, I believe that Ramadan is not only a month of celebration. Ramadan teaches us to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity. I am looking forward to create more memories during Ramadan and to utilize the month to strengthen the bond with friends and family.</article></body>

The Memories of the Holy Month: Growing Up as a Muslim

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslim worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer and self-reflection. It’s not only a month of devotion but it is also a month full of memories.

Being raised as a Muslim, my family and I always look forward to celebrate Ramadan. It is a get together month. Malaysia is a country with majority of Muslims. We welcome Ramadan with a buoyant mood. Being in quarantine during Ramadan this year is a bit frustrating. It bring back the memories of welcoming and celebrating Ramadan last year and many years before.

I started fasting when I was 7 years old. My childhood memories of Ramadan is sitting with my family in the early hours of morning for Sahur and saying the supplication for fasting. Sahur is an Islamic term referring to the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before sunrise during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The meal is eaten before fajr (morning) prayer. I am not a morning person when I was a kid. It was a real struggle to wake up very early in the morning for Sahur. But I think my mom was struggling even more to wake us up. I was raised in a big family of 10. I believe you can imagine the chaos my mom was facing. Being an Asian mom, she will be babbling during her struggle to wake us up but at the end there will always be good food on the table. We have lists of menus to request from her for Sahur. It is no doubt that mom’s cook is always the best.

Waking up for Sahur is not only the struggle I had as a kid during Ramadan. I can never forget the thirst and starving I had during school hours. Could you imagine a 7 years old climbing up the stairs to her class in the 3rd floor while fasting? Me being mischievous, I would sometime sneak to the toilet to sip some water from the pipe. Until today, my parents thought that I was very obedient as a kid. Who would have thought that sometimes, breaking some rules can be the best memories that you could keep alive.

As an Islamic country with a penchant for food, Malaysia celebrates Ramadan in the most glorious form, as streets from all corners in the country turn out to be massive street food fiestas, also known as Bazaar Ramadan. Perhaps the most special and distinguishing aspect of Ramadan in Malaysia is the Bazaar Ramadan that can be found at almost every corner all over the country, offering a huge array of mouth-watering delicacies for you to break your fast with. A visit to these bazaars are a feast for the senses, especially olfactory, as you would be assaulted with all kinds of wonderful smells wafting in the air as you walk from one end to the other.There is no better time for locals and tourists to titillate their taste buds than by touring the various Iftar (breaking of fast) spots and trying out the various delicacies each site offers during the month-long Bazaar Ramadan held throughout the country. This is something that we, Malaysians, missed the most during this lock down.

But Ramadan is not all about good food during Sahur nor Iftar. It is about submission of soul and supplication to the Lord. It is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. After Iftar, my family and I would go to the nearest mosque for Tarawih prayer. Which is another thing that we missed while being in quarantine this year. Tarawih are extra nightly prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. Tarawih prayers are considered Sunnah (optional), not obligatory.

In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking during this time, Muslims abstain from sexual relations, sinful speech and behavior during Ramadan. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities.

All in all, growing up as a Muslim, I believe that Ramadan is not only a month of celebration. Ramadan teaches us to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity. I am looking forward to create more memories during Ramadan and to utilize the month to strengthen the bond with friends and family.