Fasting Month of Ramadhan

Here comes Ramadhan .. for those who celebrate .. this is the month of joy and celebration!

My grandfather, when he was alive, will fast for the three months straight - Rejab, Sya'aban and Ramadhan. As a grandchild, until today, I keep thinking where do people get their strengths to do such thing .. I tried but I could just get two days in Rejab, two days in Sya'aban (during Nisfu Sya'aban) and InsyaAllah, this is day 2 of Ramadhan 1434H (2013).

People fast for a lot of reasons .. be it 'ibadah', health and sickness, to wash away sins, as a sign of protest and so on. This morning, I have to get up at 3.00 am to have my sahur (we eat early in the morning before the sun rise as a preparation to fast during the day). I heard from religious kuliyyah that the best time to eat sahur is when you delay it to the last moment before subuh prayer (the azan). But at the moment, for certain reasons, we have to take turn to eat sahur.

I am not fond of kurma (dates) but so far, I have eaten almost two boxes of Iranian dates. I wonder where such food crave comes from. They tasted good. This time, I managed to get fresh dates that the inside is very soft ..the feeling you get in the mouth.

This year I am celebrating Ramadhan in a new place, so it is a new experience for me. I still could not overcome my fear of walking in the dark in order to reach the mosque or surau to perform terawih. Therefore, I pray at home.

The best thing about getting up early at 3.00 am is that you have 'time' to catch up with your prayer - tahajjud, witir and so on. But, you have to go to bed early. I think it is not difficult to do since your stomach is already full, your eyes are heavy from the terawih exercise, your tired body .. and you doze off.

This time I remember the first day it was quite tough because you (and your body) are trying to adjust to a new 'body clock'. The worst part is sitting at your desk during daytime/ day job, with the lunch time shorten so that you can go home early .. and you feel this is the longest time ever that you have sat typing or doing your work without fear of missing lunch.

As for my grandfather, I hope that this year, I will be given an opportunity and strength to visit his grave (and pay my respect)   ..  as the day he was buried is the last day of my visit. May God bless him!

Happy Fasting and may you find the truth that you are searching for.

Hayati