The Ramadan month is always something that Muslims around the world look forward to every year. With an entire month dedicated to removing oneself from wordly temptations, stripping things down to the basics and bringing oneself closer to the divine, there are plenty of ample opportunities for religious and spiritual reflection. In addition, there are also plenty of opportunities to spend more time with your loved ones, as businesses typically cut down on working hours throughout the month. If you're a newlyweds, this is obviously good news! Just ask musician Ritchie Ismail, who recently got hitched to TV personality Syahnaz Sadiqah, meaning that this is the first time they spend Ramadan as married couple. We spoke to Ritchie and asked for his insight on navigating Ramadan as a husband and whether there are any significant changes on his Ramadan habits now that he's a married man. Read on to find out!
"As I'm certain any newly married couples would attest, the main difference to Ramadan when you're married is definitely having a partner accompany you for your suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (breaking the fast). When I was single up until we were dating, I would usually wake up alone for both and prepare everything myself; but now that I'm married, my wife would prepare suhoor and iftar for the both of us. It's a nice and comforting feeling to have a partner with you when you're observing a religious activity.
That aside, there is not that much difference in my daily activities in comparison to the other months. But obviously there are certain specificities that you can only do during Ramadan. For instance, I would go out and get snacks for iftar. I love doing that, especially when my friends join me.
However, nothing beats spending time with my wife. Ramadan is the perfect time for that, I think. In fact, I would recommend all newlyweds to just spend more time with each other for your first Ramadan together. It allows your bond to become stronger, and at the same time, the two you can be closer to God and observe the month of Ramadan to its fullest extent. We are planning to do everything this Ramadan: suhoor, iftar, all the prayers. It enriches your soul and it teaches you the true essences of life: love, connection and God." - Ritchie Ismail
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