In the Shadows of Ramadan

Ramadan is the most important month of the year for Muslims... Its peaceful atmosphere... Its spirituality... Coming together with our loved ones... And sharing Iftar tables together... It is a happiness that fills our hearts with pleasant feelings... 

Every year we welcome Ramadan with great excitement... But this year?

Today is the first day of Ramadan, but our hearts are heavy. Why? Because this year, the light of this holy month is covered by the dark shadows in Gaza, Palestine. 

The suffering caused by the war in the Palestinian territories... is increasing in the lonely shadows of Jerusalem and Gaza... 

Although Ramadan started for us today, it has been months since Ramadan started for them. 

Unfortunately, neither a sip of clean water to drink nor a bit of food passes through their mouths for days... While we think that what we experience from sahur to iftar is hunger... While our brothers and sisters in Gaza are fasting in the hunger of days without sahur and iftar... How can we say that we are fasting? 

We have lost the reality of Ramadan. We have moved away from the meaning of fasting beyond just fasting and being hungry. 

In our tradition, we know how special and hopeful it is to enrich iftar tables and host guests. But how can we set traditional iftar tables when our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who are struggling with hunger and despair, cannot find water to drink and a bit of bread to eat?  

When the children of Gaza are motherless, fatherless, deprived of basic needs... When they are struggling to survive in the shadow of war... How would we have taste in our iftar tables?

While our Muslim brothers and sisters are hungry... How appropriate is it for us to sit at the iftar table with a variety of dishes? How appropriate is it for us to be full? 

So this Ramadan, instead of focusing only on ourselves, let us be aware of the suffering, hunger and poverty in every corner of the world...

As Palestine struggles to exist in despair... Let us adapt to their situation... Let us give them hope by showing an attitude of love and cooperation... 

And then Ramadan will become a completely different Ramadan...

Let us not forget that when a Muslim brother prays in the middle of an attack... when he makes room for all of us in his prayers... Let's create an opportunity for us to support our brothers and sisters in Gaza this Ramadan as proof that we recognize the hopelessness in their eyes... 

Fasting is not only about experiencing hunger and thirst, but also about bringing patience, tolerance, cooperation and love to the heart. 

It is to feel what our brothers and sisters are going through as if we are going through it too. 

The distances between us are of no importance. The important thing is to shorten the distances in our hearts. 

Our prays are with you Gaza...