Ramadan Reflections: moving forward despite challenging times

Photo by Tom PREJEANT on Unsplash

Ramadan kicked off this week. Our family began fasting on Wednesday. Ramadan comes with great excitement, and yet, being a parent, it means staying flexible to changes. This week, we canceled two iftars as people in our family got sick.

The kids are off from school for mid-winter break. That helped us transition into Ramadan, which started with Tarawih prayers on Tuesday night, with the first jamat taking place between 8-10 p.m. When they’re back in school, the long hours at school keep them busy but also drain them. The kids have made their own Quran goals and have been motivating each other to read.

As a mom, it amazes me to watch how the kids each engage in their faith, focusing on different parts of it — from creating a homey iftar space, to reading together, and spending our nights watching the new Yaqeen Ramadan series, “The Name I Need,” focusing on the 99 names of Allah. As much as I enjoy sharing customs with them that I grew up with, like having Bangladeshi sehri and iftar foods, I also appreciate creating new customs.

I work as a reporter during my day job. I care deeply about covering meaningful Muslim stories in the media, especially during Ramadan (last year, I made this guide for reporters on how to cover Ramadan).

This year, I interviewed Syrian Canadian author Nadine Presley about her new illustrated children’s book, “A Ramadan Night,” and I interviewed a mom of 6, whose husband was taken into ICE custody on his way to prayer at a Detroit mosque. Lorenda Lewis shares her concern for the lack of religious accommodations at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan — the largest detention center in the Midwest, housing over 1,400 people, including about 300 Muslims. The family is fighting for an emergency stay of removal. This year, Muslims are particularly concerned about ICE as they gather in worship.

Ramadan feels heavy this year, differently from previous years, with the war in Gaza and the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, it’s a time for deep reflection, spirituality, and a time for togetherness.

Other headlines:

• Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has died.

• “A Ramadan Night” shares the journey of a child observing Ramadan in Syria.

• A fundraiser in loving memory of Amara Rose Davis, who died last week.

• Community creates GoFundMe to raise funds for the family of a Dearborn man who ICE detained. Here’s how you can help.

• Detroit Friendship House teaming up with CAIR-MI to host Know Your Rights presentation at the Islamic Center of North Detroit (Masjid Al-Falah), Saturday at 1:30 p.m. People will learn about their rights when they encounter ICE. Bangla and Arabic translators will be on hand.