Eid Mubarak to all who observe. Eid marks the closing of the holiest month in Islam, Ramadan. Ramadan is a time of fasting and deepened reflection for Muslims around the globe. From sun up to sun down, there’s no water or food. On the surface, some might view this as a time of sacrifice. But it’s actually a time of deep reflection. It’s an exploration of a different way of being. It’s a tradeoff of empty stomachs for full souls.
I’ve been reflecting on how Ramadan rejects the dog-eat-dog status quo. About how Ramadan practices are at the root of a better relationship with the earth.
“All living beings roaming the earth and winged birds soaring in the sky are communities like yourselves. We have left nothing out of the Record. Then to their Lord they will be gathered all together.” – Quran · Al-An’aam (The Cattle) · 6:38
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, discipline, and renewal. For me, it’s also one of conscious consumption, rest, charity, and a slower pace. Our society’s structure doesn’t leave much room for these practices.
Conscious consumption
Our world is full of food waste. Being a conscious consumer is exactly what we need. Being mindful of the food we eat and of how much we eat. Ramadan helps us understand what our bodies truly need to sustain life. And it surprises us with how little our bodies need to survive. We don’t want to do this year-round, but it shows us what can be different if we really try.
We live in a capitalist system. This system drives excessive consumption. Conscious consumption shows us how our entire society could be different. Do we need 20 shirts? Or that new watch? How about that new car? Instead, can we make do with what we have? Then we can consider why we even consume something in the first place. Why do trees have to be profitable to be valuable? Why is community health less important than money? Do things have to stay the way they are now? What would happen if we shifted our relationship to the natural world?
“O Children of Adam! Dress properly at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. He does not love the excessive.” – Quran · Al-A’raaf (The Heights) · 7:31
Rest, reflection, and renewal
Lunar cycles guide the Islamic calendar. Ramadan begins with the first sighting of the crescent moon in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. The moon shifts, and so does our journey. This guides us through phases of reflection, renewal, faith, and better ways of being. It’s a reminder that nothing remains unchanged. Not even us. Like the cycles of the moon, we ebb and flow. We wax and wane. Like the moon renews, so do we. In times like today, the chaos of the world is on full display. It’s unsustainable to maintain a high octane output. Unlike machines, we need our rest. Unlike machines, we need reflection. Unlike machines, we can find renewal within ourselves.
Ramadan observes the natural cycles of our world. It reminds us that we should also follow natural cycles. Because we’re part of nature, too.
Rest
Rest is almost forced upon those fasting. Activity is still possible. I still make it to the gym, and play recreational league soccer. I work and continue to show up in my life. But it requires an adjustment. Our bodies can’t behave and perform like when they’re eating and drinking water through the day. A hot or cold day makes it hard in its own ways. On a hot day, you might get thirstier. On a chilly day, you may feel more cold because you’re without food. So we must adapt our rest, our needs, and ourselves.
Reflection
I’ve now realized how much time I occupy with screens, food, and distractions. When I stop prioritizing those things, reflection comes naturally. I think about the state of the world and my role in it. I consider my responsibility as a Muslim to be in right relationship with the world. We’re encouraged to cry during prayer. To feel and be in our emotions. There is so much pain in the world. So many are suffering. It feels wrong to not embrace how that affects all of us. This Ramadan, I’ve felt that and reflected on it. I’ve sought a path to ways I can help build a better world.
Renewal
Finally, Ramadan is a time of renewal. We shouldn’t be the same at the end of Ramadan as we were in the beginning. No, it’s our responsibility to come out of it better. We should have softened hearts, more wisdom, and more knowledge. We should have more love and better practices to reflect the strength of our faith.
Organizers doing good work inspires me. Tricia Hersey is the founder of The Nap Ministry. She wrote Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto, which sums it up pretty well:
“You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect.”
Empty stomachs, full souls
I wasn’t raised Muslim, so I’m still forming my reflections and understandings. I come to my faith as someone who’s struggled with my spirituality. I’ve felt that I needed to shun faith to be progressive in my ideals. I let the negativity of religion cloud the benefits of faith. Now I’m finding new ways to be in right relationship in this world. My organizing work, like my faith, comes out of failure. I’m a long-time organizer who’s struggled with burnout. I’ve worked so hard that exhaustion has forced rest upon me – physically or mentally. But I’ve had the privilege to show up differently to organizing. To be mindful of my whole self. To be fully present with those facing the worst impacts of this destructive system.
In finding my faith in Islam, I also found the benefits of balance. The systems of oppression we live under mold us into beings of extremes. Ramadan reminds me that our greatest strength is nurturing balance within ourselves. That balance lets us show up for other people, for nature, and for community in powerful ways. Balance reminds us to speak truth to power and to actively listen. Balance reminds us that we can be strong individuals and strong together. It shows us that we can take from the world what it offers and give back with a mindset of abundance. The Quran, reminds us the importance of maintaining the delicate balance of nature. It warns against exploitation. It warns against disruption of the natural order of things.
Ramadan is about following the rhythms of nature. If we can tap into it, maybe we can change the world around us. Change the world so that it, too, slows down and lets nature take the lead.
“So do not transgress in the balance.” – Quran · Ar-Rahmaan (The Beneficent) · 55:8
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