With the second coming of the second wave of covid-19, Ramazan also arrived with its unparalleled blessings in April 2021. However, the threat of covid-19 kept increasing which brought with it challenges to both life as well as livelihood.
Due to the extraordinary conditions surrounding us, each one of us had a different Ramazan experience. Following are some personal anecdotes that our readers shared with us to have a final look at this year’s Ramazan before we bid it adieu and eagerly await its return!
“The blessed month of Ramazan this year was the most difficult one in my life. Hardly have I moved an inch out of my house as apprehension and fear for my family and friends kept me engulfed day and night. It started with very close relatives being tested positive for covid and ended with the death of two out of four of them. Opening social media to read and watch stories of millions fighting covid-19 or losing the battle to it, SOS messages, cries, struggles, separation and helplessness, burdened my heart with despair. Undoubtedly, if there wasn’t the blessing of this month and the Tawakkul I have in heart, probably there would not have been a morning everyday”
Sheikh Arsh
Social Media Manager, KO
I am trying to settle my emotions down while finding a way for words, which is hard. This pandemic and playing my little part in emergency response has been the biggest lesson of my life so far and a tough to learn lesson. Every time I am faced with someone, I am out to help, I come back home overwhelmed, tired and guilty. Guilty of all the previledges I have, guilty for having everything, every luxury at my disposal while people struggle for a piece of bread, literally a crumb of bread to do for a day. More than anything I feel guilty for not doing and being everything I need to do and I need to be. I see these children along their desperate mothers coming to collect the food from strangers, I feel their helplessness in their hunched and tired backs because they depend on somebody’s mercy. I feel guilty for not being more humble than them to tell them, with all the luxuries I have that you don’t, I am worth nothing than you are for still putting up with life. I met this old woman, she must have been in her 90s who came crawling her way up to me from some far away place for help, I felt guilty for existing, I met this woman who came to collect something from Mehjoor Nagar and didnt have the money to go back home, she had a teenage son with her, who was hiding his gaze from me, his tired gestures aren’t leaving my mind, what can damage a young boy to make him so tired, so early in life. Why is the world so unjust and what are we so confident about, I am constantly asking myself.
Sadaf Masoodi
NGO Worker
“The sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan rejuvenates iman. Charity and social work takes an accelerated pace. This year the month coincided with the second wave of Covid-19 and fear , helplessness brought us a few steps closer to Allah as He seemed to be the only hope in distress. This month to me and to my family was an intense psychological test as my mother’s sister battled for life on a ventilator, who is safe now by the grace of God. Now that Ramazan is gone, it hurts to think that we wouldn’t have its soft embrace to make us feel better”
Namra Hussain
Student and Researcher
This Ramazan has come at a time when most of us are already drained and exhausted due to the successive lockdowns since 2019. It has been a long while since we observed Ramazan in normal conditions, Eid will again be celebrated inside closed walls of our homes with no congregational prayers due to a worsening situation because of Covid-19. I have felt very anxious due to recurring thoughts of losing almost three years of my life which can’t be brought back by any means.
Sheikh Imran
Freelancer
I could not fast this year. As someone, who had always been particular and enthusiastic about fasting all 30 days, being unable to fast felt bitter. My grandfather tested positive on the very first day of Ramazan. He had to be hospitalised because of which I was to be at the hospital for 10 days. Not fasting was also unusual for my grandfather who has been a devout Muslim all this while. After he was discharged, I contracted the virus and struggled with it for more than 3 weeks.
It is only now that I have recovered completely.
But I say goodbye to this Ramazan knowing well that even as I couldn’t give it anything, Allah gave our family safety and protected us because of this holy month.
Suhaib Qousain
Student
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