It’s time to bak af the daltjies and fold the samoosas as we enter the season of darels.
Yes people, the holy month of Ramadan is upon us.
This is considered to be the most blessed month on the Islamic calendar by Muslims across the globe and is also known as the month of forgiveness.
For 30 days from when the maankykers sight the new moon for Ramadan, until they sight the new moon for Labarang, Muslims sacrifice food, drink and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset each day.
During this holy month we are taught that the devil is chained and not roaming the earth, so if you sin, that’s on your own boekie.
So my brothers and sisters, study yourselves during this time because enige vuil maniere wat uitkom is van jouself, and not shaytaan (the devil).
STUDY: Don't be surprised if mense get saalieg. Photo:INLSA
As difficult as it may seem to sacrifice these things, Muslims do not take fasting as a difficulty.
Rather this is the month we love the most and it has a specific purpose.
It was during Ramadaan that the Qur’an was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and Allah orders in the Qur’an that Muslims must fast in order to gain god-consciousness and draw nearer to him.
My non-Muslim tjommies at primary school used to make fun of me when it came to the pwasa, saying my lippe is droeg, or they would eat apple bompies in front of me trying to tempt me, but niks wat hulle getry het kon my pwasa waterig maakie.
They always told me, Waseef, it doesn’t matter how we tease you, you never give in.
As we grew older, they all tried fasting with me at least once, which was kwaai.
Certain labels are also about to make a return, and soon you will be hearing people making statements like: “Hie is die seasonal Muslims alwee, dra mos net doek innie pwasa, or: “Jy sien net vir hulle innie masjid innie pwasa”.
But as the aalims say, this month could be the turning point for that brother or sister, so kanallah, don’t come keep you judgerag.
Every one of us has a weakness and sometimes all we need is a push in the right direction.
For many of us, the month of Ramadan is just that opportunity, so as jy wil negative wees t eenoor iemand wat nou ‘n bietjie saalieg raak, hou net so va s, because fitna queens speelie saam innie pwasa nie.
I love this beautiful month because I’m as weak as the next person, and in this month I too strive to get some barakah(blessings) in my life.
We often tend to look at the rest of the world and wish for another “better” life, because of what television and the internet shows us.
But let me tell you something, we are blessed to be living in the Mother City.
Only when you go out of the country, or even the Western Cape, will you realise just how lucky we are to be able to celebrate Ramadaan here.
COMMUNITY: The spirit of giving is alive during the holy month of Ramadaan.
Photo: Neil Baynes/INLSA
I spent one fast in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the athaan (call to prayer) could not be made over the loudspeakers, and it was heartsore for me because the spirit of Ramadaan was just not as alive there as it is in our communities here at home.
We know that the only way you can break your fast is when you hear the maghrib athaan, now imagine there is no athaan, no Voice of the Cape radio to play it, and nobody knocking at your door to bring you koekies15 minutes before boeka time.
This is the situation in many parts of the world, so how blessed are we to be living in a country where we are free to practise our religion? Thank you Nelson Mandela and all our freedom fighters.
One thing that stands out in Ramadaan in Cape Town is the spirit of giving.
I wish you all a Ramadan Kareem, one that is filled with an abundance of rewards and one that will bring us all closer to the Almighty.
Pwasa ma lekke.