Today was the 10th day of Ramadan.
The five of us sit quietly breaking our fast. Not a lot of talking at Iftar time. The days are long, fasting from 3:45 am to 9.05 pm. We are all so drained with no energy, it is a struggle! I really admire the people who say fasting is so easy.
We break our fast with the same food every day. Chana (chick peas), samosas / or spring rolls, dates fruits and tea.
At the beginning of Ramadan, my son Naasir said to me, "Mother you don't have to do that date and water thing and rush to pray Maghrib. Allah will surely understand if we delay the prayer a few minutes, after all we live in Toronto and it is the longest days of summer. So, we started to enjoy our Iftar properly. I must say a cup of Tea has never tasted so nice. This is one of the simple pleasures of Fasting.
Today I tried to start a little conversation about fasting. My mom says she is not really that hungry at Iftar time, she said maybe because she was ill and lost her appetite. Everyday she sits in her usual seat and I would ask her what she wants to eat, she says anything and everything I put on her plate she eats it all out. So everyday, I pile it with a little bit more food and she eats it. She is missing not getting to go to Taraweeh this year, to listen to Naasir recite. Taraweeh starts really late in these long summer days. My dad who is not fasting, he is diabetic and on insulin. He also enjoys the simple Iftar with us every day. He likes when I hand him a cup of tea. He wakes up every morning with my mom at 3 am.
Still struggling with Iftar conversation. I asked them if they are feeling the hunger, and if they feel what hungry people could be feeling.
Again my son, Naasir who has a "smart" answer for every question, he said, "Mother, I really can't feel for the poor Nigerian kids right now. I have empathy for them the other months of the year. This month of Ramadan is between me and Allah. Fasting is something I have to do, it is required of me, I don't want to feel and think too much right now." Talk about being honest. After a few minutes, he does get a little bit more chatty. He finishes his dinner and prays Maghrib and then rushes off to lead Taraweeh prayer at 10:30. Naasir and his dad get home around 1:30 am from Taraweeh, if I am up Naasir will keep me until Suhoor, at this time he is so energetic and have so much esoteric knowledge and stories to relate.
This is our typical Ramadan day....
