A ramadhan memory at home..

A new night of the sacred month
the thin slice of the moon;
the crescent visible only a few minutes to the naked eye
A sight beautiful signaling new,fresh
Greetings one to the other:
Ramadan Mubarakh

And a few hours later sounds of drums
Wake up! Wake up!
have a meal, a simple glass of water!
Before the first light,
before you begin the fast,
make the intention
Wake up!Wake up!

And the day progresses,
a slowing down;
restaurants closed,
coffee houses empty.
And workers begin their trek home early

Late afternoon,
the speciality stores openselling the special once a year snacks,
crowds flocking and moving hurriedly
collecting their Iftar (break fast)
And mothers prepare the traditional meals
taking extra time for the fasting family
Only an hour before the sun sets
city streets empty,
as in a curfew,
And now only a few minutes,
family and friends gather
around the tablemaking small talk
awaiting the moment...silence...

Allah-hu AkbarAllah-hu AkbarAllah-hu AkbarAllah-hu Akbar(God is great)
Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lahAsh-hadu an la illaha illal-lah(I witness that there is no God except Allah)
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lahAsh-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah(I witness that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah)
Hay-ye alas-slatHay-ye alas-slat(Hurry up for prayer)
Hay-ye alal falahHay-ye alal falah(Hurry up for prosperity)
Allah-hu AkbarAllah-hu Akbar
La illaha illal-lahLa illaha illal-lah(There is no God except Allah)

And the siren,
signalling the sun dipping below the horizon
And together,
some with dates, some with a pinch of salt
"We take this food in the name of Allah, most gracious, ever merciful"
Prayers given and later friends and family mill around,
some content others tired,
but all happy on this day of Ramadan...Peace