Ramadan is a special time for all Muslim families, but for kids learning to fast for the first time, the excitement is greater than ever.
Happy to meet again after two-year pandemic restrictions, members of the Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA) thronged the gymnasium at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque as young Muslims came together to learn the meaning of month of fasting.
“Ramadan is a month of fasting and doing good deeds,” said Najmeddin El-Bakri, who’s in Grade 5, CBC reported.
📚 Read Also: Ramadan for Young Souls: 7 Tips That Will Make You Better
Najmeddin El-Bakri, who’s in Grade 5, said he plans to fast for Ramadan for the first time. (Walther Bernal/CBC)
The 10-year-old El-Bakri will fast Ramadan for the first time this year. He is a little nervous about the new experiment.
“Sometimes in school, I get tired in gym,” said El-Bakri.
“If you want more strength, you could ask God to help you throughout the day, so you make it through,” he added.
Maryam Almiski, 10, said she plans to spend Ramadan reflecting on how to become a better person. (Walther Bernal/CBC)
10 Year-old Maryam Almiski is also anticipating Ramadan to work on self-improvement.
“Some people have bad habits, which lead to bad things,” said Almiski, who plans to step up her dental hygiene during the 30-day holiday, and floss her teeth every day.
“You need to get rid of bad habits to become a good person,” said the fifth grader, who fasted 27 days last Ramadan.
“I was pretty hungry, since it was my first time,” she said. “But I learned patience.”
Manitoba Islamic Association volunteer Dr. Hanan Awad organized the youth event and said Ramadan is a time to look inward and reflect on her life. (Walther Bernal/CBC)
Together Again
Dr. Hanan Awad volunteers at the MIA’s Kids’ Library, and organized the event for youth, held for the first time in two years.
This year’s successful event attracted more than 140 children to the event at the mosque.
“I’m so happy to be together again,” said Awad, a medical doctor with a PhD in biochemistry.
Though it was difficult to mark Ramadan without getting together in iftar and prayers, Awad believes it allowed her to get the best of Ramadan.
“For me, Ramadan is more of a spiritual thing. So I need to be by myself sometimes during Ramadan,” said Awad.
“This is a time when you stop all the routine activity that you are doing every day, and think about yourself, who you are and what you want to achieve.”
Ramadan is the holiest month in Islamic calendar. It is expected to start this year on Saturday, April 2.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint, and good deeds.