فما دامت غايتك من مذهبك الوصول الى الله وغايتي من مذهبي الوصول الى الله، فما شانك معي اي طريق اسلك الى الهدف”

مخايل نعيمة – البيادر

I had arrived from my honey moon to Lebanon to visit my in laws, as it was traditional for all newly weds to do so. I was welcomed with opened hearts and arms. My mother in law was holding up a piece of dough that I had to stick on top of the entance door before entering the house. My father in law gave me some coins to stick into the dough for good luck.

A few days later, as we were all sleeping on that January night, I woke up to loud sounds. At first I had no idea what was going on. I remember looking at my watch and it was 4:00am. This is when I really started to worry. Suddenly the lights were all switched on and the sound kept getting louder, like someone was chanting and calling names. I got up to find that one of the names was my father in law’s name amongst all the other neighborhood names يا ابو بسام. That was when I realized that it was the mosa7arati مسحراتي, and it was the month of Ramadan. He was saying: يا نايم قوم وحد الدايم

During all this chaos I still had a feeling of melancholy inside and I knew from the tone of everyone around me and the sounds that were coming from downstairs that it was something special. Inspite of the freezing weather my father in law put on his thick brown robe and went out on the balcony to salute the caller. Suddenly there was commotion everywhere and specifically in the kitchen. I entered to find my mother in law heating her favorite dish,  the fatteh, that she was very famous for, to pass it to the neighbors for s7our سحور. This is the time when all who are fasting get up to have their last meal and drink of water before the long day of fasting ahead. After all the preparations in the kitchen were done, my mother in law went over to the neighbors to offer the fatteh that was done specially for this occasion, as it was the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

That night taught me how lovely it was to be living among people who practiced different religions and traditions, and cared for each other disregarding their differences. I truly witnessed what it was like to be part of such a peaceful and respectful society. This sense of solidarity and loyalty survived the Lebanese civil war and continues till this date. Today, my sister in law still lives in that same house, caries the same principle, and holds the hand of her elderly neighbor; carrying the torch of loyalty, a solid proof of coexistence العيش المشترك. Tripoli, like most cities back in the 70s, that is how you welcomed me, I found you and your peolpe living in solidarity. May that spirit prevail in the hearts of the coming generations.

My advise to you all, walk in the path of endurance, tolerance, and love, as these three spirits are the way to happiness bringing us closer to the one God and to each other.

“Bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church, for you and I are of one religion and it is the spirit.” Khalil Gibran

I thought of sharing this story with you all to wish you a happy Ramadan.

صيام مبارك

With love, Jahna