Hussein Bazzi: "It's about bringing family together."

Ramadan is a cross-generational experience — something rare in the religious experience of most Americans, who tend to segment worship and religious programs by age. Today’s story is from Hussein Bazzi, a 13-year-old 8th grade student:

I started fasting when I was in 4th grade. It was pretty exciting for me because I’m the oldest one of my cousins. We would get together at my grandmother’s house, and I used to enjoy saying, “Look, I fasted, and now I’m eating with the adults.” The adults respected that I was fasting, and they wanted me to eat with them. It was pretty cool.
   It’s a tradition to break the fast with dates. But I didn’t like it that much, so I break the fast with water, and then some of my grandmother’s homemade chicken noodle or lentil soup.
   This year of fasting is going to be hard because I’m not used to the long days of fasting. But because of the environment I’m in, it might not be hard. People around me are fasting. Since most people are fasting, the school won’t require you to, if you’re on a team sport, practice harder. They’ll give you a break. They understand.
   Myself, I don’t play outside as much. I try and stay inside and watch TV as much as I can because the fast goes by faster.
   When it’s time to break fast, we go to my grandmother’s house. Ramadan is not just about feeling like what it’s like to be poor. It’s also about bringing family together. It’s really something I look forward to every year, and something you wish continued when Ramadan stops.

PLEASE, share your thoughts — and your stories.

  We have convenient links on this page — above at right to share your
Comments or to share this story with a friend — and a link at left to
“Share Your Story” with us.