My first Ramadan

Ramadan. The holy month where all Muslims around the world fast from dawn until dusk while devoting themselves to The Almighty and doing good deeds. I recalled my first Ramadan when I was five years old. In the middle of the night, I woke up out of sudden and went out to see my parents sitting at the table. I saw bread, a box of strange-looking fruits which I eventually learned they were dates, butter, strawberry jam and milk. I turned to the clock behind me and asked them why were they having breakfast in the middle of the night. (I assumed that 4 a.m. was still considered nighttime.)

They invited me to join them and told me that they were fasting. Using simple terms, I understood that fasting is when you don't eat breakfast and lunch and Maghrib is when you get to eat dinner, for a whole month. 

I learned with great fascination and the thought of starving never bothered me. I was a curious girl back then and anything new was exciting. My parents didn't force me into fasting but they asked whether I wanted to try it and I willingly nodded. My first sahur was simple. My father thought me that it is sunnah to begin meals with an odd number of dates, so I began with three. I ate two to three slices of bread spread with either butter, jam or both and drank lots of milk. After that, I went back to sleep and woke up at 7 a.m. in order to get ready for school. I was the only one who fasted in my class, perhaps the entire school, but seeing my other classmates eating didn't bother me. 

Throughout the day, hunger didn't break my motivation to fast but for the first time ever, I was excited for Maghrib to come. It wasn't because I couldn't wait to eat, but it was because I was eager to experience what "breaking fast" is like. My mother cooked my favourites and of course, a box of dates was also laid on the table. The television showed TV 1 where there were advertisements. The long-awaited azan had arrived and we said our prayers. My first breaking fast was simple as well. I began with dates and a sip of hot milo. It was at that moment when I began to love the sweet taste of dates. The food tasted ten times more delicious than usual and after eating, my father invited the family for Maghrib prayer. 

In a child's point of view, everything about Ramadan was magical. I was truly happy to experience my first Ramadan and since then, I never once missed a day of fasting until I was fully grown and matured where I began to have my first "exceptions."

I do admit that there were times I would sneak into the kitchen and secretly munch on cookies or drink water whenever I was thirsty and I do pray I'm forgiven for them. I was a child who didn't fully understand the weight of a sin. Nevertheless, I am proud to have started earlier than any average kid. My prayers are dedicated to those who fast involuntarily. Even if I do not fully feel their pain, fasting in the month of Ramadan is the best way to show my sincerity towards them.