This year, the longest day of the year falls during the middle of Ramadan. When I realized that this is what lay ahead of me, I couldn't help but sigh because it's going to be a long month with some very long fasts.
However, the sigh was fleeting, because my anticipation of the month is actually is one of excitement and tied around three Cs - community, celebration and contemplation. As I have gotten older, Ramadan has changed in its meaning from a time of hunger and to one of self nourishment. I look forward to a month where I have been granted the luxury by God to take a step back form my life to refocus and recenter.
We also live in the blessed LA County, where an ifar between Jews and Muslims to an iftar with the mayor is our reality. We are blessed to live in a city, where the consulates invite people into their offices and where non-Muslims want to partake in our festivities.
I look forward to being with my LA Muslim family and seeing familiar faces. This year, I now am adding two Cs to my Ramadan - compassion and communication. With the election year upon us, this is a time for us to pay it forward and educate LA about Islam and Muslims. It is a time for us to strengthen the community voices alongside our individual voices.
Marium Mohiuddin is a longstanding member of the Islamic Center of Southern California. In the past, Marium worked as Communications Coordinator for the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Today, she is active in the Los Angeles interfaith scene - sitting on six boards, speaking about civic engagement and interfaith relations, and donating her time to bringing people together. Recently, Marium returned to her passion in communications by launching her own communications firm, Pracca, Inc.
