Pray, eat, love

These three words have been resounding in my head every time I think of Ramadan. The most obvious is ‘pray’ but to be honest ‘eat’ has become an equally important part of this month of fasting. Maybe ‘love’ is the only one that takes a back seat.

How many of us actually feel the hunger pangs and relate to those deprived of one meal a day. Some of us, the ones who think we know what Ramadan is all about and choose it as a convenient time to repent for our year-long misdemeanours, dedicate this month to God and commit to extra prayers for those bonus points from Him.

We spend the day trying to get rid of our bad habits but come sunset we indulge in whatever our heart desires. Be it a lavish spread, one single cigarette or the simple, and oh-so-harmless act of talking about others.

Love is such a simple word — overused and misunderstood. Love for our families, friends, neighbours, our employees — even those in the car next to us stuck in the traffic jam. Do we practise enough patience, sympathy and compassion or do we feel that fulfilling our obligations through the act of zakat will suffice? Somehow I feel that fasting gives most of us the right to feel that we deserve some slack for being lazy at work, honking impatiently to get home for that much-needed nap or maybe hiring even more help for ourselves.

I was one of the lucky ones who got to spend the first three days of fasting in Makkah and Madinah — where Ramadan is at its spiritual and festive peak. It was heart-warming to see how people were more than generously sharing food and drinks, so much so that I am willing to guarantee that nobody could go hungry at the time of suhour or iftar. It was enriching to participate in prayers that did not feel like an obligation but a passion for being closer to God. It was disappointing to be around those who pushed and shoved and, without a care for the age or physical ability of the person next to them, made their way ahead. The need to deliver one’s own prayer can be so overwhelming that you lose sight of the essence of worshipping together — brotherhood and humanity.

It is not my intention to belittle the money spent in praying or indulging in the luxury of food that each can afford, but if we took some time to spread the love — as clichéd as it sounds — we would realise that along with being a festive month, Ramadan is also an opportunity to make those around you happier. Love is patience, sympathy and compassion. Love is also prayer.

Ramadan Kareem.

— The writer is a Gulf News reader living in Saudi Arabia