Solidarity

Ramadhan is a fasting month for the Muslims. The time to fast varies each year [according to Islamic calendar, the Hijri].

3rd Ramadhan = 18.05.2018

It was my first time going to mosque in Kempten for tarawih (extra prayers performed by the muslims at night in the month of Ramadhan). Before this I stayed quite far from the mosque so I mostly performed my tarawih alone at home.

As soon as I came in, I saw an old lady smiling at me. So I went to her, shook her hand and hugged her. We muslims always do that (hugging those from the same gender as us whenever we meet at mosque), even though it‘s the first time we meet each other. I don’t know how to really explain that, but we normally hug each other to show the brother- or sisterhood among Muslims and a sign of solidarity towards each other.

For the first time I felt like I was at home performing the 20 rak’ah of tarawih with the people from my own region, Kempten.  (Rak’ah is a single unit of islamic prayers) It only took us an hour. That sounds like a lot, but it was not difficult at all. All muslims agree with this; performing tarawih help to calm the inner spirit and that is the beauty of Ramadan.