Worth the Struggle: 6 Reasons Why I Love Ramadan

Ramadan is that special month where we feel closer to God. We all strive to do things for His sake and hope our deeds are accepted and our sins are forgiven. Most, if not all Muslims, love Ramadan. I especially love Ramadan because of the following reasons:

1. It Gives Me a Chance to Restructure My Life

Whenever Ramadan is around the corner, I usually feel the necessity to restructure my schedule in order to accommodate the requirements of the month. This means I have to come up with ways to make waking up early comfortable, as well as schedule most of my tasks for the morning so that I don’t burn out quickly. This restructuring is also a good opportunity to drop old habits and create new ones that hopefully stick with me long after the month is over. One habit I formed last Ramadan was reading a page of the Quran after Salah (each of the 5 daily prayers). Alhamdulillah, it is a habit that stuck and I have continued ever since.

2. It Definitely Brings Me Closer to God

Waking up early and giving up food and drink are surprisingly stressful but effective ways of feeling close to God. With every sacrifice I make in this month, I’m acutely aware that I am making it for God. This makes me value my relationship with Him more because I know the only being that could make me willingly give up food and drink is Allah.

3. It Helps Me Feel Closer to My Family

Whenever we eat Iftar (the evening meal) together to break our fasts, it is always beautiful and it is a moment that I always cherish. I love helping my mum make the Iftar and it has turned out to be an excellent way to bond and get to know my mum better. I also realize how much my family loves me because they always refuse to let me sleep through Sahur (the pre-dawn meal) and do their utmost best to make sure I get up, no matter how much I want to sleep, and I do the same for them.

4. I Eat Healthier

I’m ashamed to say it but I eat healthier in Ramadan. This is mostly because I like breaking my fast with fruits and giving my body proper nutrition after it has stayed about 14 hours without food. I usually end up going back to junk food after Ramadan, which is a bad habit I’m trying to break.

5. It’s a Special Time That Connects the Ummah/Muslim Community

All over the world, praying five times daily and belief in Allah are things Muslims share. Some Muslims who can afford it, also come together as a community and perform hajj together each year. But the one ritual that Muslims everywhere practice at the same time is Ramadan. There is this instant connection and relatability whenever I encounter another fasting Muslim. I immediately feel like this person gets me and understand what I’m going through at that moment. It’s a really special thread that connects us all for a month.

6. Laylatul Qadr

The highlight of Ramadan for me is the search for that special night. It is the best feeling staying up and praying to the Lord of Worlds on a night that is better than a thousand months.

I wish all of us a beautiful and blissful Ramadan. And I hope we are all able to make good use of the month.

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