03/05/2026
Some things we’ve normalized for this holy month of Ramadan that actually come from culture with no ties in Islam.
1. Islam literally talks about menstruation in the Qur’an openly. Yet culture turned it into something girls feel like they have to pretend just to avoid questions. In some households there isn’t even space for women who aren’t fasting to eat normally. So they end up pretending to fast just to avoid the awkwardness or judgment, even though Islam already gave us that ease.
2. Ramadan somehow became a checklist. How many rakats, how many pages, how much for zakat. But worship was never meant to feel like a competition. The point was always sincerity and connection with Deen, not just stacking numbers.
3. People love throwing around the term “Ramadan Muslims” as an insult or mockery. But if someone reconnects with their faith even for one month, that’s still a step closer to Allah. And that’s the beginning for some people. This month is literally meant to help people reset spiritually and yet so many cultural shaming.
4. This idea gets repeated so confidently but it mostly comes from cultural confusion. Reciting the Qur’an out loud isn’t harmful or disrespectful either. The Qur’an was meant to be recited and heard. Being temporarily excused from fasting doesn’t take away a woman’s ability to remember Allah or engage with His words.
5. Feeding people can be rewarding, yes. But Ramadan was never meant to turn women (or whoever cooks) into full time kitchen staff while everyone else gets time for prayer and reflection. Worship shouldn’t leave one person exhausted while others get all the spiritual space.
Allah knows best and may Allah grant us the understanding to separate culture from what Islam actually teaches.
