Ever since I can remember, especially in my younger days in the UK, Ramadhan for my household had always been a solemn affair - especially to a young boy of pre-teen years, who would rather be outside the house playing with his friends, or simply idling and wasting time - what young boys like to do.
But of course, this month was different from other months, and I would notice a big change in my parents. They would seem quieter and more inward-focussed than usual, busying themselves with prayer and other religious duties. I used to remember my father telling us that during the month we shouldn't be too frivolous in our actions, and that we should not watch too much TV, or get lost in too much entertainment. Instead we should devote ourselves to Allah, thinking about Him and how to please Him in every way we can. This we did by increasing our readings of the Quran.
In fact this was what was expected of us, and this my father ingrained into us every day.
When it was nearing Maghrib, he would make it a point to sit down in the living room and start reciting the Quran in full view of all his children, which would be a cue for us to sit down and read the Quran too.
In fact, during Ramadhan, rarely did I see my father without the Quran. He even brought a small Quran every where he went, and would read it whenever he had time.
If Dad led by example and discipline, Mum taught by teaching and explaining.
I remember as a child Mum reading books to me. However, it wasn't the normal assortment of storybooks that she would read (Oh, we had an ample supply of those too, courtesy of Mum and Dad). We had books ranging from Enid Blyton to stories of the prophets, and during one Ramadhan (when I was around 9 I think) Mum introduced me to books on Allah.. of good deeds and Heaven... of sin and Hell.
I was fascinated by these books... I read with absolute wonder the descriptions of Allah and Paradise, and I cringed in fear at the descriptions of the Jahannam...The Hellfire. It was here that I spent countless hours discussing with my mother how to go to Heaven, and it was here she explained that it was simple - Please Allah. Do good deeds.
So started my journey in the appreciation of the true meaning of Ramadhan, at 9 years of age.
My parents trained me well, alhamdulillah.
Comments
erm, how does it feels, fasting in new home?ehehe
Fasting has become second nature to us Muslims because we were trained from young. I started fasting when I was six years old, lured of course by the RM1 a day bait my father cast. Those were the days where we spent a lot of time in the bilik air, not to drink the tap water, but to cool off during the hot weather. We were introduced to the Quran and Cerita Nabi2.
The only thing my parents couldn’t instill in me and my brother was the need for sahur. Rather than having us asleep next to our plate of rice at the dining table, my father decided that we were better off sleeping in our beds.
This year, because of the need to take medication, I tried to wake up for sahur starting on the first day.
I set the alarm for 5.15am, only to wake up to switch it off and went back to bed. I woke up half an hour later after Imsak but still in time for Subuh prayers.
Now, I take the medication after buka instead.
selamat berpuasa, cik lah! :D
Selamat berpuasa Sir!jgn ponteng..hik2
It's the best! :)
Atiqah,
Alhamdulillah, Allah has indeed blessed us
Ijat,
I am facing that dilemma now..I'm finding it much more difficult than I actually expected it to be
Princess,
Nanat kalau ponteng x boleh ambil exam..
I remember doing that as well, when I had just come back from the UK.. I would spend countless hours just lying on the floor near the bathroom, and not forgetting the amount of baths I would take.. probably drove my grandma bonkers just seeing the water bill during Ramadhan.
Sahur for me would be one of the best experiences of fasting, especially if I get to take my sahur at my parents'house (during my unmarried days).. In fact, it would be a tradition for me that if I were in Malaysia during the fasting month, no matter where I was, I would make it to my parents' house in time for first sahur, perhaps even arriving home at 3 or 4am after a 7-hour drive..
Fasting tradition at its best :)