As always... Ramadan Kareem!
“It is a month, the start of it is Mercy, the middle of it is Forgiveness and the end of it is Salvation from the Hell.”

The Holy month of Ramadan is approaching, it is a time when the
gates of Hell will be locked, the Devil will be chained and Allah (swt) will open the doors of Jannah (Paradise). The month contains within it a night which is better than a thousand months and endless rewards it’s “ Laylat Al- Qadr” or in English “A Night of Destiny”.

Ramadan is the most joyful month of the year, not only for Muslims but also for Christians, we all share the beautiful aspects and activities of the Holy month. The blessed month is not only to abstain from food, drink and other physical needs but to purify your soul from evil and get closer to Allah. I am from the 90’s generation and one day I was wondering that Ramadan back then was much better, much fun and more peaceful... Yes, I can hear you saying that nowadays everything... but Ramadan back then was much better! The question is: How? Or maybe, why? I had to make a survey to make sure that I’m right, and here’s what I got.

Back to the 90s: Fasten your seatbelt my dear reader and enjoy the journey back to the great atmosphere of the 90’s.
It’s “Suhoor” time, we are asleep, not like these days we stay up till dawn watching T.V. My dear mom is preparing “Suhoor” and then she will wake us up. We gather on the table to eat and chat although we had all just woke up, but it was so much fun… I remember that my brother and I used to drink more and more water until the Fajr prayer thinking that by doing this we won’t be thirsty. The funny thing is that wasn’t helping at all, and with the least effort in the hot weather in the morning of the next day we feel as thirsty as a desert for the rain.

It’s 12 o’clock in the afternoon: Mom is in the kitchen preparing the legendary Iftar for the guests. I was only a little child but I could help. There wasn’t much to keep me busy from helping my mom like nowadays with my kids who seem to be busy doing “nothing” and almost wake up ‘only’ at the time of the Iftar… I don’t know how that can be called fasting!

It’s 4 P.m., my favorite show of all times is about to start, no one is allowed to call me or ask me to do anything until I’m done watching. It’s “Fawzeer 3amo Foad”... with the legendary actor Foad El Mohandes. I remember that all kids back then were so fascinated by the simple yet deep information we receive every day out of the show. Can you mention one show that the kids of today are affected by? Please “exclude the foreign shows”...

Right before Iftar time there was the great program of the late Muhammad Metwally Al Shaarawy, who had a very widespread popularity which earned him the title of, The preacher of the century. He was remarkably talented in explaining the meanings of the Holy Qur’an. Everyone couldn’t help but listen to him while explaining in simple words the meaning behind the most difficult verses of the Qur’an with a lovely and a quiet voice that touches your heart. He was a remarkable sign of the 90’s that we’ll always remember.

It’s Iftar time, the guests are here, we all gather on the table eating and chatting, laughing and having so much fun. Afterwards, it was the prayer time and of course every house in Egypt was switching to channel one to watch “El Fawazeer” or “The Riddles of the day”. It was either for “Nelly” or “Sherihan” or “Samir Ghanem’s Fatota”, the three most famous Fawazeer makers, no one has ever managed to compete with them.

Now it’s time to switch to channel two to watch your favorite series… Are you confused? Don’t know what to choose? Don’t worry; there are only two series to choose from! So you don’t have much choice. (P.S.: There were only two channels on the T.V back then).

The guests are about to leave and the day is almost at its end, but we still have all night to pray and read Qur’an, nothing else was done during night. The family enjoy the quiet spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan at home in peace. I don’t much remember going out for Suhoor. Most Suhoors were indoors. Night was for more prayer (asking whatever you want from God) or (supplication) and for reading Qur’an and contemplating in its meaning. In Ramadan you must try to be as close as you can to God.

Welcome to the new millennium:
We have just lived a day of Ramadan in the past, do you want to know how’s it like nowadays? Here we go: It’s Suhoor time: Everyone is still awake! We are still up watching T.V.! We eat in front of our favorite series or program. Of course the next morning no one is able to wake up, expect for mama who has to prepare for the Iftar. I’m a mother now and my kids sleep until 4 or 5 p.m. which means they fast only a few hours! They wake up lazy and powerless and keep asking me:” What’s today’s menu?” We are very hungry”! I hated it when they think that fasting means only to abstain oneself from food and drink, I keep teaching them that they should also be fasting from anything haram (forbidden) like uttering bad words, seeing anything haram and make a new strong bond with Allah through prayers and Doa’a. How can they do all that if they sleep all day? I know we still have the rest of the day after the Iftar, but I’m afraid they waste lots of time!

You’ve just finished your delicious Iftar. What are you going to do now? I don’t recommend switching on the T.V. at all!! But if you insist... suit yourself!! One... Two... Three...” BOMB”.

A blast of hundreds of series and thousands of programs playing here and there and everywhere on all channels, the thing which can easily make you go nuts! Furthermore, they present nonsense, except for some, and most of them contain inappropriate language and unsuitable scenes that don’t suit the precious month of Ramadan. What’s wrong with us? How can people accept this and call it a work of art and also present it in Ramadan? I can’t deny that they still present religious shows and they are great and very much appropriate to this generation, and many young people watch them, but we still need a higher dose of the religious shows amidst the crazy and nonstop invasion that other false forms of arts represent which unfortunately lead to moral deterioration.

If we are to talk about the family gathering comparing to the 90s, they are too in need for a quick (ICU)! People nowadays may gather once or twice maximum during Ramadan, due to several reasons; traffic jams are on the top of the list and some people are too busy to meet; they think it’s sufficient enough to celebrate through greeting messages and phone calls, very few families keep the traditions of Ramadan going.

The “fanoos” or lantern was a must for every kid. These were traditionally made of tin and colored glass, with a candle inside. More modern examples are battery operated, but really lack the spirit; though each year there seems to be a trend to see who produce the most snazzy “fanoos”! I still see the traditional old Fanoos that says “Wa7awy ya wa7awy “ is the best fanoos of all!

To sum up, Ramadan is the best month of the year for Muslims all around the world. Ramadan is the month of the Holy Qur’an. All our sins will be forgiven if we will sincerely fast, pray and ask for Gods forgiveness during Ramadan.

“Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari).
So, Ramadan will always be Ramadan with all its virtues and all its blessings, but unfortunately it’s “us” who change through the years! I know it’s normal that people change, but the change has to be for the better not for the worse, don’t you think?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be rejected”.
Therefore make use of this opportunity. Make a list of supplications, and continually say them throughout the month. Spend the last few minutes before breaking your fast, supplicating to Allah, and don’t forget to make du’aa for all Muslims. Let us all aim to make this our best and most productive Ramadan, and not waste a single minute of it. How many people that fasted Ramadan last year are no longer with us anymore? We might not be present for the next Ramadan, so we should not take it for granted. May Allah grant us salvation from Hell and forgive our sins, Ameen.

By: Amal Hejazi