Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world!
I have been here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for almost 4 years now and each year as the holy month of Ramadan approaches I had witnessed different types of people either the locals or the expats practiced differently neither to say believe and act differently.
As a born Roman Catholic living and working in a country where dominated by Muslims, I found it very challenging but at the same time fascinating to be really experienced first hand events that I had never encountered before. The customs and traditions which are really way different from what I had used to become a challenge for me. For so many times I had been labeled as an atheist, a christian with many gods even worst I praise and worship satan! But lucky for them I had been brought up with my parents with a good character, flexible in dealing with different types of narrow minded people. :)
Ramadan is not just about fasting. It is not just about refraining one self from eating, drinking (any sorts of drinks), smoking, gambling, engaging into sexual activities and other vices starting from the sun rises til it sets. It is not just an obligation to pray (because it is multiplied at this month) and it is not just the recitation of the Holy Quran.
Ramadan is not just about these, it is repenting your sins, respecting everyone from different races from different religion, forgiving and accepting God with an open heart. And it is not only during this month but for every month, every week, every day and every hour in our lives that we should practice this.
It hurts me how some people define me based on my religion. And frankly speaking I only experienced this here in Saudi Arabia. My religion neither anyone's religion doesn't define one's individuality! No matter what religion you are into, how many gods you pray to but yet you don't act the teachings your religion taught you, then I am very you are not a good person. Nobody is perfect - people, government even religion is not perfect but we can all just be more acceptable and respect one's belief, I think we could have a much better peaceful world.
P.S. this post is only based in my own points of view. I do not intend to hurt, degrade nor mislead anyone who might be reading this. I had a lot of good Muslim friends and they are great nice and beautiful people inside and out. This post doesn't generalized all the Muslims because we are all unique and beautiful.
