Growing up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Ramadan became the epitome of togetherness and community for me. During that time every year, I remember people bustling about in fresh markets, grocery shopping to prepare for the evening’s fast-breaking meals, and how the fabric stores were packed with people shopping for their Eid outfits. Sweetmeat shops and Chinese restaurants alike sold sweet, freshly-made Jalebis and spicy kalo chana. The entire city came alive and alight. In the evening, for a few minutes after the sun had set, everyone would fall silent, the sound of the Azaan streaming out of mosques, and we would break our fast with a date. Iftar (the meal at sundown which breaks the fast) in my family had and always has always been a feast: slices of deep-fried eggplant and potatoes, pakoras, haleem and sweet lemonade, followed by two hours of a total inability to move a single muscle from a food coma.

Ramadan is my favorite time of the year. The way many people look forward to Christmas or the first sign of Spring, that’s how I feel about Ramadan. During its month-long observance, practicing Muslims fast from sunrise until sundown for a month — meaning, they abstain from food and drink — culminating in the celebration of Eid.

When does Ramadan begin and end?

There's no fixed date for the beginning of Ramadan because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle. Some reports say that it starts on May 16, but it's dependant on the sighting of the moon of Ramadan and concludes around June 14, right before Eid.

Practicing Muslims, particularly during this time, also partake in Zakāt, or the giving of alms to those in economic hardship based on a portion of accumulated wealth. The very giving of Zakāt is considered to be an act of cleansing and community. It's a form of compensation earned from an individual's wealth acquired through interest or other means, and it serves as a mechanism to alleviate poverty in our communities. It's also a communion outside of yourself; charity is not for the sole sake of charity, but a way to show love and accountability for our communities while fostering new ones that previously did not exist.

Other than fasting, there's a lot of spiritual and mental healing.

Ramadan motivates you to realign your intentions and check in with your deeper self, an experience that can be spiritually healing and physically restorative. It’s a time of communion with yourself, a time to reflect on the way you nourish your mind, body, and the environment around you. For a month, you abstain not only from eating and drinking during the hours of the fast, but also from lying, gossiping, arguments, hateful rhetoric, and any bad energy in your life. I use this time to examine my growth as a person, including personal successes and failures. I like to remind myself to slow down, to not push my body to the point of exhaustion through lack of nurturing, and to care for it with simple and healthy meals.



It is also a time to care for my mental health by questioning what moves me to self-doubt, resentment, and feelings of ill will. Now is the time to end toxic relationships with myself and others with grace. Difficult situations and people won't cease to present themselves during this time or in life generally, but you can charter this territory calmly and with dignity — not just to honor your fast but also to care for your mental health. Being kind to those around you is important, but also be loving towards yourself.

It's important to check in with yourself regularly.

What a lot of people fixate on about Ramadan, however, is the month-long fast and what many would consider the extreme self-discipline involved in participating. Fasting during Ramadan isn't simply an obligation to be completed before mindlessly filling our stomachs with any kind of food to sustain our bodies for a month. It’s perceived to be a time of cleansing and self-control, and how we nourish our bodies during this time is central to it. Check in with your body and nourish it with what it needs, not what it wants at that moment.


As much as your body wants to gulp down two glasses of lemonade with tablespoons of sugar (I've been there), dates have been traditionally eaten to break the fast because they serve as a good source of natural sugar, fiber, energy, and essential minerals, and the importance of water and hydration requires no further introduction; according to the Hadith, or the written collection of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet encouraged breaking the fast with dates and water because of their nutritional value.

You may need to make some adjustments to your work life during Ramadan.

Navigating work and social spaces where Muslims are a minority can be difficult, particularly when people aren't aware and informed of your cultural practices. There have been countless times that I've found myself in situations where I've been unable to break my fast come sundown, prioritizing work instead, and almost never performed the Maghrib prayer at work to complete my day of fasting. Oftentimes, I was worried about being targeted for embracing my religion and practicing it in the way I chose with the uptick in anti-Muslim sentiment in America.

It can be daunting, but the best way to overcome this is to just talk about it — lack of understanding about Islam and about Ramadan comes from ignorance. Talk to your co-workers about Ramadan and its significance to you, and state your expectations to be accommodated, such as time to break your fast and a safe space to pray. Should you experience any mistreatment or discrimination, remember that in America there exists the First Amendment, and you have the freedom to exercise your religion.

Explaining your observance to others can be tricky.

Outside of the workplace, non-Muslims may ask every conceivable question about fasting. While it can be tempting to shout, "No, not even water!" it is better to try to navigate this space with patience. While some cases will be cause for provocation, most are asked out of curiosity. This is also an opportunity to educate others about Islam from the perspective of a Muslim. Often my non-Muslim friends have asked if they can fast too and I'll encourage them to do so. This way, they can experience how restorative and meaningful of an experience it is spiritually and physically.


Wellness, along with the practice of good spiritual, physical, and social health, is central to observing Ramadan. It is a month of reflection on who you are and the humanity with which you navigate your presence in this world. Be mindful, stay hydrated and no bad vibes. Ramadan Mubarak!


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