OBSERVING MUSLIM RAMADAN DURING THE CHRISTIAN EASTER SEASON: Week Five — Ramadan Concludes

The following log is being presented in a series of weekly installments.  To read this document in its entirety, please visit: philchurch.substack.com

DAYS 29/30 (FRIDAY/SATURDAY, APRIL 29/30) – Attending an Afghan Hiring (Job) Fair.  NF comes to town from where he’s living with his family in Pittsburgh to meet up with his former work colleagues, HM and JN, whom he hasn’t seen since the summer 2021 when the three worked together on US government funded projects in Afghanistan. NF has come to attend a Northern Virginia Afghan Hiring Fair, sponsored by local non-profits and attended by some corporate recruiters. The three Afghans are hopeful that this event, or others to come, or what may emerge on their computer screens each day, will open doors to productive jobs and self-reliant futures. Some leads emerge from the job fair, but more follow-up work to do with online applications lies ahead.

DAY 31 (SUNDAY MAY 1) – Eid Mubarak!  Happy Eid!  Ramadan concludes at sunset.  Today, HM joins the families of some of his friends for special prayers followed by a celebratory Eid dinner.  Phil and Connie wonder how his life and ours will readjust to returning to regular eating and sleeping hours. We wonder what the future holds for him and for us in his life. Our month together has been richly rewarding and a real learning experience for each of us.

Ramadan ends but the Easter season continues until Pentecost the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. Our interfaith lives together with HM continue as well. Connie and Phil feel blessed to have HM in our home and to be able to support him as he faces the challenges of strengthening his foothold in our American economy and culture.

HM has a lot more to accomplish before he becomes self-reliant and, most important, before he can thrive enough to send money back to Kabul to help his family members whose lives become more precarious each day. We don’t know how long it will take and what challenges still lie ahead for HM here and his family there. But HM’s self-confidence is contagious and has infected us deeply. Our respective faiths and shared values are bonding us closely together. 

So, wish us well and stand by! More good news is surely to come.   

This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.