Aiyisha Adam

‘I’m originally from Ghana and have lived in Qatar for five years. Currently I am a nanny, but I’m studying to become a nurse. Ramadan means many things to me, but mostly it’s a time for prayer and reflection.
I pray for forgiveness and give thanks for the good things we have in our lives. I also pray for the freedom we enjoy every day and for entry into heaven in the afterlife. I give thanks to our creator for the lives we have, both the good and the bad.

‘During Ramadan I try to open my heart to all people of all faiths, and pray for a better understanding of people. I focus on forgiving people and removing personal grudges. It’s also a time to let go and ask for forgiveness for the wrongs you have done. I make a very conscious effort to open my mind and my heart for a better future, and to be the best person I can be.

‘I rise at 2am for prayers in the holy month, and then have a light meal of tea and bread before sunrise. My morning prayers are about asking for strength for the day ahead in my fasting. I pray that I fast well and without illness. My fasting in Ramadan is not just of food, but of all luxuries and distractions from my prayer.

I abstain from food, music and television, and I also wear simpler clothes. Talking ill of others is also frowned upon. This is a time for me to come closer to Allah, and better understand what is expected of me as a Muslim.

‘When we break the fast in the evening, the first thing we eat is fruit from a tree, as we believe this was one of the first things created. We do not have lavish feasts at Iftar, as this distracts from the purpose of Ramadan. Also, the body cannot manage a lot of food after fasting all day. The rest of my daily routine continues as normal. I go to work and I take care of my family.

‘This year I am very excited, as I will be making my first ever pilgrimage. We will be travelling as a family for this – men, women and children. This will be a time of earnest prayer and an opportunity to see the burial place of the Prophet Mohammed. We abstain from all pleasures and distractions during the course of the pilgrimage, and we bathe meticulously so as to be as clean as possible for the prayers. As you wash, you also cleanse your mind and heart of impurities in preparation. Every Muslim should try to do at least one pilgrimage, to have a better understanding of what it truly means to be Muslim and to bring them closer to Allah.’