The pwasa is in full swing and Muslims still have time to make the best of the first 10 days of this blessed month and gain the Almighty's forgiveness.
Now although most Muslims are using this time to become better people and improve their character, some people are just not pwasa people.
Instead of being more patient during this month they tend to lose their sabr (patience) quicker in the Ramadaan.
I have been told by my family that I am one of these people.
After thinking about it I realised that it’s possible I was, not because of staying without food and water, but because we quit day smoking without preparing our bodies and minds for it.
I think the outburst and fights us smokers tend to have in this month is because of this.
We are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, like when Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma suddenly banned entjies during lockdown without warning us.
It made a lot of people miserable and angry when they could not get their usual fixes.
So if we were to prepare our bodies a month ahead for the fast and we start to smoke at night only, then we could have much happier pwasa people.
I also think we should try to become more conscious that we are not the ones starting the fights by questioning yourself a bit more in these situations – ask yourself if it’s the right time to respond or if you should just wait for a different time to reply to someone that is making you angry.
I feel bad as I was in a few arguments already this Ramadaan that in hindsight could have been avoided, and I always find myself thinking of my grandma’s words that she used to say to people who skel in the pwasa: “Djy kan maar net soe goed vriet as jy soe wil aangaan.”
So yes, let us strive to have more patience this Ramadaan and carry that patience forward in the year ahead, we still have a lot of sabr to make with this virus if we want to survive it.
It is also not a good example to non-Muslims if a fasting Muslim is bad luck all the time.
Imagine being a suurknol for a month just because jy is honger en kannie ’n skyf trekkie, and then you want to vertel people, “Listen, don’t lol with me I'm fasting.”
No, that is not how it’s supposed to work, you should be a better person not a pwasa gangsta biting friends and family’s heads off.
We also tend to skel a lot in the shops when we go shopping, it’s like the people working there are our targets for that pwasa skel maniere.
Just accept there isn’t your size and move on, don’t go skel at the employees and use the excuse of the customer always being right.
No, the customer is pwasaring and in a bad mood, so make sabr.
It is very important for us as Muslims to take note of this and really focus on becoming better people, especially during the holy month of Ramadaan because we are ambassadors of Islam.
We are taught that the best of people are those with good manners, and those who have patience under all circumstances.
So let us give it our best shot and try to improve our character while fasting.
After all, what is the point we make sadaka and feed the poor at night, but during the day we shout at a beggar just for bumping into us?
May the Almighty guide us and protect us during this blessed month, and grant us patience.
After all, having sabr is one of the most beautiful qualities a Muslim can have.
Pwasa lekker, man.