Ramadan Is More Than Becoming 'Mo-slim' And Getting Dates

Ramadan Is More Than Becoming 'Mo-slim' And Getting Dates

With all the hilarious puns comes an even more extraordinary month.
Eeman Z. Uddin
Eeman Z. Uddin May 22, 2018
488
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When welcoming Ramadan, we also welcome all the puns and memes that come with it. The memes and puns can speak for themselves, especially when it comes to the preparations for Ramadan. It is often times that we get into such a Ramadan high, and we meticulously plan every second of the day and listen to hundreds of inspirational lectures with feverish hope.

But after only two weeks in, our Ramadan high begins to turn into a Ramadan low. The fasting hits us in the stomach; the exhaustion of Taraweeh hits us in every inch of our bodies, and we just want out. The only thing we look forward to is losing weight and the end of the month.



SEE ALSO: 11 Ramadan Puns To Get You Through This 'Fast'

Warning: If you find yourselves in this situation, you should know that you've probably been doing something wrong. Sometimes focusing only on the fact that you can't eat can make you forget about Ramadan's real importance. In essence, Ramadan is about emptying our stomachs while feeding our souls. If you're only doing the emptying stomach part, then it's no wonder why you're not getting anywhere.

If you look at the word Ramadan, you find that it was taken from the word "ramad" which means extreme heat. Why is this important? What does heat do? Heat changes the state of an object whether it be from a solid to a liquid or liquid to a gas. Similarly, This is a month in which we change the state of our faith by focusing on the things that will nourish it.

Have you ever just felt dead inside? No, like actually dead inside — you feel like you need to be doing something with your life or with your time. Or maybe you've been at a point in your life where you question your purpose and goals. These feelings of discontent come from a place of spiritual malnourishment. We feel empty inside because we have no goals to look forward to and no means of sustainable fulfillment.

Ramadan is your one chance in the whole year to turn your life around. It's an opportunity served to you on a golden platter, and all you have to do is take it. The devil is chained, and everyone around you has similar goals. All you need to do is push yourself. Ramadan is like a spa treatment or vacation that has been long overdue. It's up to each one of us to now disconnect from everything that feeds our desires and plug into the things that feed our souls.

Take this one chance, this one month and change yourself change your perspective. Prioritize your life, organize your schedule and take action. Ramadan will be gone before you know it, and there's no guarantee that you'll make it to the next one.

SEE ALSO: Readying For Ramadan The Right Way: 14 Tips To Make This Year's Ramadan Rock

Cover Image Credit: Pexels / Simon Migaj
Eeman Z. Uddin
Eeman Z. Uddin May 22, 2018
At Alpharetta, Georgia
At Alpharetta, Georgia

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When God Says, “Not Right Now.”

“God give me faith to wait and not manipulate. To trust You fully, no matter how my circumstances may appear." — Lynn Cowell

Melaney Mendez
Melaney Mendez Jun 21, 2016
26147
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One of the most frustrating yet beautiful things is when God tells us “no" or “not right now."

At the time, you may have agony or desperation for this one thing to work out in your life, but it slips away from you. You may ask God why. Why does He want you to be unhappy? Why does He want to take away your dreams?

At the time, you cannot see how much God truly is working in your life, but He is. In my life, every time that I was disappointed that a plan or dream didn't work out, I was devastated. I didn't want to be in a position where I was challenged and tested. I wanted all the blessings to flow and to fulfill what I thought was my plan in life. But that's exactly what it was: my plan.

I did not see at the time that that is not what God intended for me and that He actually had far greater plans than I did for myself. He needed to mold me into who I am supposed to be today. Along the way I have met the most amazing people that have had a huge impact on my life, have gone through the most amazing experiences with God, and I wouldn't trade going through all the trials because it has truly made me into the woman I am today.

“What God does in us while we wait is as important as what we are waiting for." – John Ortberg

God is continually, endlessly, working in our lives.

We may not see it, but He is. We may blame God for all the things that are going wrong in our lives, but we never see that in the end, we were supposed to go through the low valleys to get to the high, amazing, and beautiful mountains in our lives.

I truly believe that it's when you're at the bottom of the darkest pit in your life that you can actually see the light of God shining brightly upon you. During these times, pray to Him to lead you to understanding that this is all a part of His plan for you.

It hurts God to see that His child is suffering, but in order to carve out just the person that you are supposed to be, you must go through challenges. Where you are today is no accident. God is using the challenge you are in to shape you and prepare you for the place He wants you tomorrow. When it comes to God's plan, timing is absolutely everything.

Looking back on all the events that I had to endure before getting to where I am now, I know that I had to go through the trials in order to be just who I am today, which is happier than I have ever been because I know God and His plan for me. Waiting is the most difficult job of hope, but you must remain faithful and know that God is guiding you.

“When I wait, you strengthen my heart." Psalm 27:14

When you are waiting for God's righteous plan, don't lose faith in His goodness. He only wants the best for you, and in the end, you will look back and see just how much He truly was working in your life. Be patient and the blessings will flow.

Cover Image Credit: Pinterest
Melaney Mendez
Melaney Mendez Jun 21, 2016
At Sam Houston State University

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From The Christian Girl Who Visited A Mosque And Had Her Perspective Changed

Getting to know your neighbor...

Madison Krystyniak
Madison Krystyniak Jun 13, 2018
1235
views

In today's current political climate, it feels as though it's harder than ever before to understand our neighbors. We often cannot look beyond the headlines we read in the news and actually talk to each other: it is difficult to separate political propaganda from the people we encounter daily.

One group in America that faces particular discrimination is Muslims. Whenever ISIL commits horrific acts, people in the United States suggest extreme measures such as banning all Muslims from entering the country. While I understand the skepticism, I think that it is of the utmost importance that we all recognize that the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful and ISIL does not represent their beliefs.

The KKK calls itself a Christian group, but they represent the exact opposite of Biblical teachings; the same is true of Muslims and the Quran. ISIL has completely distorted the teachings of Islam and misrepresents Muslims around the world.

I am currently taking a class on the Middle East, Arabs, and Islam. Over the weekend, my class and I visited the local mosque in Waco. The people there were generous enough to let us partake in their breaking of the Ramadan fast along with other Christian churches and members of a Jewish temple. It was a moment where we were all able to come together and see each other as people who simply have different beliefs.

I identify as a Christian, so I obviously do not believe the same things as Muslims. However, I have discovered that many of our beliefs and teachings are similar to those in the Muslim faith. Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Noah, and even Jesus are all mentioned in the Quran. There are striking differences between Christianity and Islam, but there are also several similarities.

At the end of the breaking of the Ramadan fast, I left with a feeling of peace and reconciliation. I realized that events like this that involve sharing our cultures and religions with each other is a start to ending bias. Our neighbors may not look like us, or even have the same beliefs as us, but we are all people in search of happiness and a better life. In the end, love will always trump hate.

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upload.wikimedia.org

Madison Krystyniak
Madison Krystyniak Jun 13, 2018
At Baylor University

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