Where Is the Ramadan Spirit?

On Snapchat yesterday, we asked people, “What does Ramadan mean to you?” Here’s what they told us: “Konafa bel manga.” “Akl bas.” “Mosalsalat.”

Really? This is the meaning of Ramadan? The folks we asked in London spoke about the hardships of fasting, which is a lot closer to the spirit of the holy month than weird desserts and TV — and they were non-Muslims living in a Western country.

But here in Egypt, a Muslim nation, when did Ramadan become solely associated with binge eating and binge watching? When did the spirit of Ramadan become hating Ramez Galal?

Sure, we’re seeing a shift — especially in younger, more affluent generations — away from the country’s conservative tendencies, with seemingly more and more girls taking off their hijabs and people becoming slowly more open-minded to other ways of the world. But that doesn’t mean that we should lose sight of what Ramadan is all about.

Ramadan is meant to ground us. Humble us. Remind us of the bigger picture in which we are so fortunate to have a roof over our heads and food on our plates — things that billions of other people on this planet don’t. Ramadan is about giving back, not overeating.

It’s 30 days of celebrating with our families, reconnecting with our communities and feeling at one with our brothers and sisters of our faith. It’s a month of abstaining from bad habits so that we can renew our souls and cleanse our spirits. Ramadan is about getting closer to God, not our TV sets.

The fact that we focus on the superficial — the craziest desserts, the best ads, the hottest actors, the most dramatic shows — during this month is exactly why we need Ramadan in the first place. Let’s not lose sight of why we even celebrate this month. Otherwise, what’s the point?

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss How Ramadan Makes Even a Foreigner Feel at Home.