South Africa – For the billions of Muslims worldwide, Ramadan holds a unique significance. It is a period devoted to fasting, prayer, charity, and, most importantly, familial and communal bonding.
However, Ramadan this year carries a distinct aura. The customary jubilant and festive atmosphere seems subdued as we continue to grieve over the numerous hardships and tragedies faced by Muslims globally.
As Islam teaches, when one part of the body suffers, the entire body feels the pain. Similarly, when one Muslim nation undergoes hardship, it reverberates across the whole Muslim community.
Specifically, in Gaza, Palestinians endure relentless bombardment, diseases without medical aid, forced starvation, and displacement inflicted by the Israeli Zionist regime during this holy month. These atrocities have resulted in the death of thousands of innocent lives.
Furthermore, scarcity of food and clean water compels the Palestinians to extend their fasting hours, consuming animal feed and makeshift meals like grass mixed with lemon. With mosques, churches and sanctuaries targeted and destroyed by the Israeli Occupational Force, Palestinians, including Christians, face challenges in performing their prayers and seeking refuge.
Amidst the destruction and genocide in Gaza, this year’s Ramadan in the enclave starkly contrasts with previous ones. Despite enduring harsh occupation and other violations, Palestinians managed to uphold the sanctity of this holy month.
Noura, a South African Palestinian who was evacuated from Gaza, reminisces about the beauty of Ramadan in the area. She fondly recalls cherished memories, such as adorning her home with lights and lanterns while her children attended school.
Her culinary creations featured a rich array of traditional Palestinian dishes, enhanced by elements of South African culture that her family embraced with delight.
“The streets of Gaza used to be filled with the atmosphere of Ramadan. The chants of the welcoming of the month and the hustle and bustle of the street. It would suddenly be extremely quiet, and then, within minutes, you hear the small firecrackers. The kids would light up at the tradition to celebrate the breaking of the fast. People would go out to have dessert, walk the busy streets, and visit family and friends; everyone was always smiling and helping one another. The atmosphere was extremely lovely, and then the adhan for Eesha and Taraweeh prayers would Enlighten our soul and bring us closer to our creator.”
Even though Noura and her family have found safety in South Africa, her thoughts remain fixated on Gaza. She continues to experience the anguish and hardship endured by Palestinians facing Israeli military aggression. This profound empathy has dampened her spirits and hindered her ability to celebrate this holy month.
“I’m proud to be from both countries, but this Ramadan is difficult. We can’t help but keep remembering them all back home—their suffering, their pain, and our lack of desire to celebrate like we used to. Our Imaan is strong, but our spirits are dim.”
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One of Many Families Unable to Leave Gaza
Noura resided in South Africa until her marriage, which led her to relocate to Gaza with her husband and his family. Before their evacuation, she and her family directly witnessed the atrocities, savagery, and constant dread induced by Israeli military assaults on the enclave.
“For two agonising months of the war, we witnessed firsthand the brutality, the horror and the fears. We were personally evicted from our home twice, the last time being in November of 2023 when we were forced from the North to the South. Our windows were shuttering upon us. Deafening explosions surround us. Screams, injuries and panic. It was honestly the darkest days of our lives.”
Drawing a comparison between Gaza then and her time spent there, Noura described bustling streets filled with life and laughter adorned with decorations. However, she now depicts the streets as desolate, grey and filthy, resembling a dystopian wasteland.
Although Noura and her family managed to evacuate, they still have loved ones trapped in Gaza, whom they deeply worry about. Like many others, they remain stranded due to the exorbitant fees demanded by the Egyptians at the Rafah border, preventing their escape.
“We were evacuated from the South African government, which I’m very, very grateful for, and I consider myself very privileged. But survivors’ guilt is very real, and I cannot live every day feeling that people are still suffering, and I managed to get out. Alhamdulillah, but I do wish that others would also get the opportunity.”
Despite being in South Africa, Noura and her husband have very little due to repeated displacement, which has allowed them to take only essential belongings. Presently unemployed, they aspire to support their family with basic necessities such as food but are unable to do so.
Therefore, Noura humbly appeals to the South African community to contribute whatever they can, not only to assist her family still residing in Gaza but also to aid the thousands of Palestinians facing dire circumstances.
