1 minute read
Short read to understand the routine your Muslim colleagues
experience for 30 days, from dawn to night.
Sleep is interrupted deliberately. You wake while it is still dark because once the fast begins, there is no eating or drinking until sunset. The focus is hydration and intention. This pre-dawn meal is simple and functional. It is a quiet, solitary time where the clinking of a spoon against a bowl is often the only sound in the house. When the first light of dawn appears, the morning prayer called Fajr begins. This is the signal that the fast is now in effect.
This is often the sharpest part of the day. The body is fueled, the mind is clear, and focus feels unusually strong. Without the interruption of coffee breaks or lunch plans, the day gains a new rhythm. Work that normally takes effort can feel easier here. Many people experience a level of concentration in the morning that they do not feel outside of Ramadan. This is a flow state driven by a lighter body. The fast also extends to behavior. There is a heightened effort to remain patient and avoid anger as a form of internal discipline.
By midday, the fast is settled. Hunger is present but manageable. Thirst registers as a dull hum in the background. The noon prayer, known as Dhuhr, is a short pause that recenters the day. Every Friday, the community gathers for Jummah. A sermon is delivered, and people listen and reflect together. The pause is intentional. Attention shifts from individual effort to shared direction. It is a moment to remember the purpose behind the hunger.
Late afternoon is when the fast is felt most physically. The mouth and throat are dry, energy narrows, and the body slows. This is the point where willpower takes over from habit. The afternoon prayer, or Asr, comes as a reminder to stay patient and present. Attention turns inward. Hunger pangs are more noticeable, and with them comes a heightened awareness of what it means to go without. This is often when reflection deepens and thoughts turn toward those who live with scarcity every day.
As sunset approaches, everything else fades. The world seems to hold its breath. The kitchen fills with the scent of food, but the moment is about more than eating. When the sun disappears below the horizon, the prayer called Maghrib begins and the fast ends. Traditionally, a date comes first for a burst of natural sugar, followed by water. This is a moment of immense gratitude for the water, for the food, and for the discipline of the day. Families gather, friends visit, and many mosques open their doors for communal iftar. Life reorganizes itself around this table.
After eating and spending time with family, the night prayer, known as Isha, marks the close of the day's obligations. During Ramadan, many stay for special night prayers called Taraweeh. These are unique to the month and involve reciting long sections of the Quran. You stand shoulder to shoulder with others in a space where there is no difference between skin color, financial status, or background. There is only absolute purity in the shared ranks. The day ends with purpose, knowing the cycle will begin again in just a few hours.
That’s the usual routine, for a month.
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