Dear Editor,
Ramadhan is a time for fasting for the Muslims. But abstaining from food and drink from sunup to sundown isn’t the only thing that Ramadhan is about. It is about prayer, self-reflection, soul renewal and meditation. This year is definitely going to be more different than ever before in that, instead of congregational prayers and Iftars (breaking of the fast) at the mosque we will be watching our sermons and learning virtually. We are taking this time to spend in prayer and connecting with God.
Another aspect of Ramadhan is that it is about doing good and charitable works which we will continue in Ramadhan 2020 as we work hard to do our part in helping during this pandemic.
Women from my mosque in Milpitas, the Silicon Valley Chapter of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, have sewn 650 masks and donated them in neighborhoods and clinics and continue to do so.
Feeding of the hungry is another valuable tenet of Islam especially in Ramadhan. Once Again we have already started volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank to help with those in need. So even though things are a bit different this year, the essence of Ramadhan not only started early but is still going strong.
Sabiha Ijaz
