Ramadan 2021 at IBA Karachi

Due to the pandemic, the way we usually experience everything has completely changed. Whether it is taking classes, sitting for exams, or just eating at a restaurant. By the same token, COVID has also affected the way we celebrate Ramadan. This is the second Ramadan that we have spent in the Pandemic. This year, the holy month began on the 14th of the hot month of April. Now that Ramadan is ending, let us look back at how Ramadan was spent this year at IBA Karachi.

Hostel ki Sehri: the start of my first Ramadan in Karachi

The first Sehri was before the dawn of 14th April. You had to eat, drink, and wash your teeth (if you do) before the time for the Fajar prayer; which started around 4:50 am. The Sehri feast was available for about two hours before the closing of the fast. An average Sehri at the hostel started with waking up or being woken up by your friends. Convincing them that “yes, it is actually the time for Sahoor” was the hardest part. After we had everyone, we’d go to the mess hall and start filling our plates with what each of us liked. I usually preferred a fried egg with paratha, some tea, a bowl of dahi, and of course loads of water.

This was my first Ramadan in Karachi, and I was a bit unprepared for the hot and dry weather. It made me a little sad when an hour away Hyderabad got a rainstorm with hail and Karachi didn’t get as much as a sprinkle of water. With ongoing classes, the fasts were tough. Staying awake during the class was even tougher. Half the day would pass with us trying to stay awake but failing to do so. Eventually, time for Iftaar would come for rescue.

Hostel ki Iftari: the highlight of the day

The feeling when the clock was at 6:30 pm, just 25 minutes from the breaking of fast was the most pleasant yet slow period of time. We’d all sit at the prearranged tables with portions already sorted out for us. Just like every other Iftaar, we thought we could eat everything on the table. However, we were already filled to full after only drinking two glasses of sharbat, eating fruit-chat, and a few samosay pakoray. After which it was time for Maghrib prayer in the congregation.

The sudden end of my Ramadan at IBA Karachi

Unfortunately, towards the end of the month, the COVID situation in Pakistan started to worsen. The government imposed a nationwide lockdown. Furthermore, this led to university campuses and hostels closing down. On-campus activities were shut down, and everyone, including me, moved back to their hometowns. Henceforth, the experience of the month of Ramadan at IBA Karachi ended before the month itself. On top of that, the holy month and upcoming Eid dates coincided with the end of the semester, quizzes, and final exams. The unforgiving weather, the Pandemic, Ramadan, transitioning back to home, plus the extra-stressful uncertain semester: add everything up, and you get an idea of the unexpected hard time students had to face.

Conclusion

The last Ashra of the holy month, what we call Taq Raatain (odd-numbered nights) is upon us. One of these nights is believed to be the Shab-e-Qadr, the Night of Power. This is the night when God sent The Holy Quran to earth. Each good deed, prayer, and an act of worship gets rewarded exponentially. This month, let us also pray for the well-being of our fellow students. Let’s look forward to a happy Eid, of shared happiness with our loved ones and family.