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While we’re all staying home, it seemed to be only fitting for Have Hope; Will Travel to get on a plane and fly to the Middle East.
If you’ve never been to Jordan, you’re in good company. I don’t know very many people who have been there. I am among the lucky few. The country is gorgeous (I’ll share photos on Instagram this week) and the people are delightful!
One of those delightful individuals is Farah who’s here today to help us better understand Ramadan and Islamic cultures.
These are some of the questions we unpack together:
- What are some of your family’s traditions surrounding Ramadan?
- What’s your favorite part about Ramadan?
- What’s your biggest struggle?
- How can we honor you well?
- What types of positive values do Muslims bring to the world?
- What do you wish everyone knew about Islam?
I think some of her answers will surprise you.
I know I learned a lot listening to Farah. Here are some of my highlights:
- Even the rich send ingredients to their families.
- Ramadan is a time for extra quality time with family.
- Even though they’re fasting, Muslims don’t just think about the food during Ramadan.
- Not all Islamic Cultures are the same.
- Muslims place a high value on education and equality.
- There is a strong desire to choose—which means some of the stereotypes we see among Muslims may not be by force of the culture or religion.
I especially appreciated how she called out the importance of peace and forgiveness. I think that’s something we can all relate to.
The world gets smaller when we find common ground, recognize those who are different from us are good human beings, and learn how to respect them well.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite podcasting app or read the transcript.
What are some of the things that stuck out to you listening to Farah?
Happy Ramadan!