Ramadan Reflections: 30 days of healing from the past, journeying with presence and looking ahead to an akhirah-focused future

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After the last day of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate its ending with Eid al-Fitr—the “festival of breaking the fast”—which begins with communal prayers at daybreak. Likewise, in Deep Space Nine we get to witness the fright of Worf’s Kal'Hyah, the four-day Klingon bachelor party that consists of fasting while facing trials of deprivation, blood, pain, sacrifice, anguish, and death. It begins the day after the committee spots the new crescent moon, which can be tricky since it’s quite faint and can be seen for only about 20 minutes.

Youngsters dress up in their traditional clothes, carry decorated bags and walk around their neighbourhoods singing the Gergaoon song, in hopes of some neighbourly treats.There is much ancient folklore about the origins of the lanterns, but a popular tale dates their use to a night during the Fatimid dynasty.

So this book with its beautiful references to duas, Quranic verses and personal stories, takes a look at that universal journey traversed by Muslims and non- Muslims. If you are someone who would like to keep a journal but are not sure where to start, the prompts in this book would be an excellent starting point, they're very introspective and reflective, and could apply to anyone at any stage in life. We should all be mindful of this important event for the Muslim community and be respectful of colleagues and students who are fasting and some of the challenges they may experience. It is customary to decorate the graves with pleasant smelling flowers and is deemed disrespectful if non-fragrant flowers are used. The Quran emphasises self-discipline through restraint of anger, acts of compassion and acts of charity.Ramadan remembers the month the Quran (the Muslim holy book) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). You are then invited to think differently; take yourself from where you are now to where you’d like to be. This is so welcome in an age where so much emphasis is placed on the external at the expense of the internal. I recommend Ramadan Reflections for preteens and above for anyone curious about their being and their Creator. And at the level of thought, it demands training oneself to lead a life where one can actively manage desires and negative thoughts.