Written by Theresa Corbin and originally posted on aboutislam.net

The first few days are a breeze. I always worry if I will make it through them before Ramadan even begins. But they always end up being the easiest.

Then the dark circles set in, the lips begin to chap, and, if I let myself, I could sleep 12 + hours a day.

These symptoms usually set in around day 10 for me. But this is also the time I hit a rhythm in Ramadan and despite eating less, I can taste a different kind of sweetness.

Indeed he who is pleased (and content) with Allah as his Lord (Rubb), Islam as his Deen and Muhammad as his Messenger has tasted the sweetness of faith (iman).” (Muslim)

 

I know this is true, but it is hard to describe the feeling. Even though the body is uncomfortable, the heart finds solace in the satisfaction of striving in Ramadan. It is a feeling to which nothing else compares.

Hold this World in Your Hand

I am ashamed to admit it but sometimes I try to fit the life of this word into a vessel that will never accept it. It’s so easy to be seduced by all the things that glitter around us. It is comfortable to fall back on old habits. It’s our nature to seek the path of least resistance.

And so I try to force a square shaped object in an octagonal hole. Like a child learning (or failing to understand) her shapes, I often fail to see that the life of this world will not fit into a heart that is created to fit only one thing.

And I try to force it, all the while wondering why I feel something missing, something deeply wrong and lacking. In order to numb the pain, I seek the comfort of the body- food, drink, sleep, entertainment. I make my body comfortable. It makes it easier to quite the yearning of the heart, or so I delude myself.

{Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) like a rain (Ghayth), thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is) forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure. And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.} (Quran 57:20)

But during Ramadan, these comforts are removed. I am reminded that we are only here for a little while. I have nowhere else to turn but to Allah (SWT). I start to feel some physical discomfort and without thinking, my mind goes to trying to find a solution.

My stomach grumbles, I think about eating. My throat is parched, I think about drinking some water. My eyes are heavy, I think about having some coffee. I am bored, I think about watching some TV.

My mind constantly returns to comforting the body. Then I remember it is Ramadan and I cannot rely on these avenues of comfort. The comfort of the body must wait. It is time for the heart to be filled.

Hold Faith in Your Heart

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