Ramadan Begins with a Spark... Literally.

Ramadan began with a clear reminder - our days are not promised.

Yesterday I left work a tad early to attend Jummat – or the Friday congregational prayer for Muslims. It was a packed house on the eve of the Blessed Month, the month or Mercy, Ramadan.

I left with some brothers (Farhan, Jay, Adeel, and Bassam) and we shared a simple meal in the Village until leaving to go our separate ways. I headed home because this morning I am scheduled to be in the city by 6:45am – 1pm to work Summer Streets for my full-time gig at Transportation Alternatives.

When I arrived home I was unexpectedly greeted by Jungwon, who owns the brownstone where I rent the bottom floor apartment, and a contractor, both in my hallway. They were inspecting how to install a hose out the front of the house. In the process he discovered that we had some kind of faulty wiring system that he quickly addressed – had he not done that, he said, we were in serious risk of a fire at any minute. Meaning he just caught it. Meaning our lives were seemingly spared.

“Somebody’s watching out for us” Jungwon mused. I thought, “yeah – Allah.”

Last night brought the actual sighting of the New Moon and with it a flurry of late night text messages sending around the blessings of the season. It is now Ramadan officially. The Fast has begun. Our doubts and fears expressed are all our own. Our externalities of doubt are no longer present spiritually – it is now us to work on ourselves.

I woke up as has lately been customary to pray around the corner with the Africans. Walking up my block to the corner of Ralph and Patchen I heard some people talking about a fire. I listened, came to the corner’s edge, and then crossed the street to see for myself. Indeed, there was a fire, it was about to start raging in a third story window, but you could see embers flying and the orange flickering glow that we expect to see – nothing billowing yet. I ran to the door, another person ran to the door next door to tell them there was a fire.

Interesting thing about humanity. It is 5am and who is awake? The junkies and party goers and the prayerful – all on the same page trying to help save life.

Someone was on the phone with 911 as I banged on the door of the building and stated yelling loudly that there was a fire. Lights began clicking on in other apartments and rooms on the block. Then, sensing that I was putting myself in danger by standing a few stories below where the flames were, I pulled back and edged closer to the corner. The fire trucks had begun to arrive. 

I darted off in the direction of the mosque – arriving just as they were calling the iqama – or the call to prayer just as prayer was starting.

Ramadan Mubarak everyone, Ramadan Kareem. 

Comments

[ZA]

"It is 5am and who is awake? The junkies and party goers and the prayerful – all on the same page trying to help save life."

My favorite line for it's poetry & irony. And reality. I pray no one was harmed. Ramadan Karriem!

[Adeel]

SubanAllah

[Z]

"It is not up to us to work on ourselves" and "Interesting thing about humanity. It is 5am and who is awake? The junkies and party goers and the prayerful – all on the same page trying to help save life" really resonated. Beautifully written, as usual.

I pray this month is good to you!