Exploring Ramadan: Reflections from New Zealand and Afghanistan

In Auckland, Kiwi Muslims are beginning their observance of Ramadan, fasting approximately 14 hours each day. Members of the local community reflect on their experiences with fasting, particularly in the context of their homeland, Afghanistan. Ramadan is viewed not just as a test of hunger, but as a period filled with spiritual renewal, charity, and community bonding, emphasizing patience and appreciation for blessings.

In Auckland, New Zealand, the Muslim community is poised to observe the commencement of Ramadan, fasting approximately 14 hours daily, a situation that has changed slightly over the last two decades. The Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ) announced Ramadan’s initiation on Sunday, heralding a month of fasting that varies according to the lunar Hijri calendar, where fasting occurs from sunrise until sunset for 29 or 30 days until the next new moon that opens Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

The Islamic calendar shifts backwards by about 10-12 days compared to the Gregorian calendar, thus in the coming years, observances of Ramadan will coincide with New Zealand’s warmer summer months. Notably, it is anticipated that Muslims will observe Ramadan twice in 2030. While the fasting hours may not reach extremes seen in countries like Iceland, where fasting lasts approximately 17 hours, local families maintain that the essence of Ramadan lies in confronting and overcoming hardship.

Enayatullah Basir and his wife Shookria, who emigrated from Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, reflect on their experiences. Enayatullah notes that Ramadan in Afghanistan posed greater challenges, where many families struggled. “Here, we have a lot of comfortability, and we have plenty of food… You don’t really feel, in my point of view, the true test of Ramadan. We don’t feel that much hunger,” explains Enayatullah, emphasizing the stark difference between their experiences in Afghanistan and in New Zealand.

In rural Afghanistan, families relied on roosters to signal the pre-dawn meal, suhoor. Enayatullah described how towns would care for a specific rooster which would essentially dictate the timing for the suhoor meal, with communities depending on it to avoid missing their chance to eat before the fast began. This communal reliance created a unique bond among families, as everyone prepared for fasting was attuned to the rooster’s signals.

Shookria shared her memories of humble suhoor meals, often consisting of bread and yogurt, limited by what families could afford. “I remember we didn’t have meat. We used to have meat once a month… mostly the milk from the sheep,” she recalls. This scarcity, however, reinforces the essence of Ramadan—understanding the difference between need and indulgence, especially in a prosperous context like New Zealand.

The Ramadan experience also teaches patience and foster appreciation for food. Shookria emphasized that it is not merely about hunger during the fasting month, but about recognizing one’s blessings and the importance of charity, stating, “It’s a month of patience, that they have no tensions. They become so much more calmer with people, like they give out more food to the poor, even though they have nothing to feed themselves.”

During this holy month, Muslims engage in spiritual reflection, enhanced prayer, Qur’anic recitation, charitable giving, forgiveness, and seeking forgiveness from others. The observance holds profound significance, being the time when the first revelations of the Qur’an were bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad over 1,400 years ago. Fasting is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam, required of all able-bodied individuals, with exceptions for specific groups such as children and the ill.

Auckland’s Muslim community is embracing Ramadan, a significant and sacred month of fasting that now also aligns with longer daylight hours. Enayatullah and Shookria Basir share poignant reflections from their past experiences in Afghanistan, illustrating the contrasting nature of fasting in comfort versus hardship. The month promotes not only self-restraint and gratitude for food but also encourages spiritual renewal, charitable acts, and the strengthening of communal bonds. Islam emphasizes the essence of Ramadan as both a physical and spiritual journey, fostering appreciation and compassion within the community.

Original Source: www.rnz.co.nz